Vienna. With today’s smartphones, anything is possible at any time! Thanks to smartphones, everything is now just a click away, but easy and fast access to information and entertainment has great effects on our physical and mental health! The new generation is now taking a stance against this! Old push-button cell phone models, described as “dumb phones”, are being revived. These simple phones have long been a conscious purchasing decision in favor of mental health.
Smartphones, which have become an indispensable part of us almost anytime, anywhere, threaten both our mental and physical health. So much so that it is known that smartphones, which make it easy to access short, fast and large amounts of information, cause mental and distraction. Whether or not there is technological development, many young people do not want this anymore and replace their smartphones with push-button phones that do not have internet or similar applications.
Especially for representatives of Generation Z, the aim is now; returning to basic needs without constant distraction. Research shows that being constantly glued to smartphones can lead to psychological problems and sleep disorders, neglecting “real” friendships and hobbies, and feeling empty and missing out on life. For this reason, push-button phones defined as “Dumbphones” are expected to bring a big change.
Alternatively “real” hobbies
“It’s hard to be without a smartphone at first, but then you realize you’re not missing anything important,” says a follower of the ‘dumbphone’ movement on the “Reddit” platform, adding: “You gain a lot because you spend time with your family without constant interruptions.”
“It’s only been a few days for me, but there are so many little things I’ve given up on for so long,” ‘Dumbphone’ users explain: “Now I’m going for walks again, writing in my diary, contacting people I haven’t talked to in a long time, and tackling long-pending projects at home.”
“I’ve been writing down my thoughts since I was alone with them again,” says another. A user now volunteers instead of being glued to his smartphone; another went on a diet, started exercising, lost “half” her weight, and generally feels better. Another says: “I do more with my child now!”
Reading, painting, sewing, listening to music and learning everything from guitar to carving to foreign languages are also cited as new leisure activities by many users.
Debate on banning smartphones for children
The trend away from smartphones originates in the USA: “There is currently discussion there about whether social media and smartphones should only be ‘allowed’ from the age of 16, or to create a norm that they can only be used from that age onwards,” says Tobias Dienlin, a communication scientist at the University of Vienna. “But to avoid dangers and ensure accessibility, teenagers should use push-button phones by then,” says Dienlin. “This is therefore primarily an initiative of parents for a limited period of adolescence, promoted by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt.”
Accordingly, the increasing use of simple mobile phones is especially noticeable in the USA and Canada, where manufacturers have recorded significant sales growth. According to “The New Yorker”, sales of the ‘Dumbwireless’ company alone doubled in one year.
The rise of “dumbphone” in Austria is yet to be seen
In Austria, experts’ warnings, parents’ concerns and the emotions of affected young people have long since reached the public, but a corresponding “dumbphone” rise is yet to be seen. However, “a general increased desire for undivided attention” can be observed, says expert Kathrin Karsay from the University of Vienna. “This includes the need for offline time, which is reflected in numerous ‘digital detox’ offers,” the expert continues. A real market has emerged around this need, where, for example, travel providers advertise offline hotels or consultancies provide training in the use of digital media. “There are also a number of apps designed to encourage more conscious use of mobile phones or to make them less attractive – for example, by presenting apps as simple, unobtrusive lists rather than colorful icons.”
“In our own research, we see that young people are increasingly thinking about when and where they want to use their mobile phones, or consciously want to do without them,” the expert said. “The majority of young adults set rules for themselves, monitor their own usage, or set time limits for themselves in other ways, such as on TikTok or Instagram,” she says.
Conscious use instead of quitting completely
However, few people want to move away from social media and digital entertainment altogether, “instead finding a better, more controlled way to use them.” “The aim is to benefit from the advantages of constant digital accessibility and minimize the disadvantages as much as possible,” says the expert. According to Karsay: “Those who set clear limits on mobile phone use at certain times, such as when eating together, or in certain places, such as the bedroom, generally cope better with daily digital life.”
“In summary, it can be said that there is a growing awareness that reaching for a smartphone can give you a good feeling in the short term,” the expert said, ‘but digital media offerings are designed to attract and hold your attention using personalized algorithms. “Many people are now realizing that these short-term rewards are not always aligned with their values or long-term goals.” he emphasizes.
Informed purchasing decision
“As a sustainable online marketplace, our aim since our founding in 2017 has been to keep in circulation as many everyday products as possible that can be brought to a functionally new state through refurbishment,” says Peter Windischhofer, one of the three founders of Refurbed. Naturally, it also applies to push-button phones.”
Windischhofer says he doesn’t like the term “dumb phones” because it “sounds derogatory”: “In our experience, there is a persistent target audience for these devices. And these aren’t just older people ‘whose needs are limited to making phone calls and have difficulty with the user interface of smartphones’. On the contrary, there is also a younger, up-and-coming generation that decides in favor of these devices based on a certain attitude.”
The “digital detox idea” is not the only factor in making this decision: ‘It also stems from the desire to live more sustainably,’ says the company’s founder.
However, in Austria and the eleven European countries where Refurbed currently operates, ‘this consumer attitude is not (yet) part of the mainstream, but in a leading position – sales figures confirm this’. Stating that the demand for simple push-button phones tends to remain stable, Windischhofer said, “We have not noticed a sudden increase so far. But perhaps the United States is ahead of us and in a few years things will look different here, too,” he says.
The online marketplace for refurbished products in the “DACH” region was founded in Vienna in 2017 by Peter Windischhofer, Kilian Kaminski and Jürgen Riedl, employs around 300 people and operates in eleven countries. Its mission is to change consumption in a sustainable way by creating additional life cycles for existing products. The platform offers fully refurbished electronic devices for up to 40 percent cheaper and with a warranty of at least twelve months. The refurbishment process results in 83 percent less CO2 emissions compared to producing a new device – read more You can reach us at.
2024-10-07 11:20:41