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People want 'dumbphones'. Will companies make them?
(www.bbc.com)
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this post was submitted on 20 May 2024
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It's fun that you need an app to keep all your apps in check.
🤷🏻♂️ true but, I do like having access to social media as addictive as they are designed to be. it keeps me in touch with people, local activism, pop culture
Kind of not the point my friend.
Some people want to disconnect from all the digital distractions and just use their phone as a phone.
They intentionally want to disconnect. I get it, that's not you. You still want the social media connection, and there's nothing wrong with that. Other people, mainly, those who want "dumb" phones, don't.
You can completely block the social media apps from your phone then. Anything that encourages someone with a fully functional phone to go out and buy another one is a waste of resources.
I do like to disconnect, which is why I have the app blockers lol
And planned obsolescence isn't a waste of resources? We are basically forced to toss away fully working phones after 3-4 years because the batteries can't be swapped. You have to take it to some shop you've never been to, and have them take it apart in a specific way, in order to get a new battery. Usually the cost isn't worth it and for a little more you can get a brand new device... The sales people always push you that way regardless.
So having the option of a feature phone when the forced upgrade inevitably happens, wouldn't that be better than forcing people to buy an over powered phone with more capabilities than they want?
I'm not saying someone should take their perfectly working iPhone 12 and toss it in the trash for a feature phone just because.
This argument is invalid.
lmao calm down.
if you're worried about planned obsolescence... buy a fair phone? or a Samsung with a replaceable battery? (they sell those) ... and put an app blocker on it? tons of people hold on to their phone for more than three years. iPhone 6s kinda have a cult following at this point. the problems of screen addiction and planned obsolescence do not require a shiny new dumbphone.
it costs less than $100 to replace the battery on your phone, that is way less than a new phone. it's way less than a used phone. take care of it, clean out the storage ... you're good.
buy a new phone if you want, if you replace your working phone with this it's pretty shitty though, and the people I have seen with these phones usually just like ... have two phones. the market for only having a dumb phone is extremely small so any company that makes these is going to inevitably end up pushing extraneous devices on people in order to turn a profit. seems like this ticks people's boxes for "buying a new gadget" as well as "being less online", it's a total gimmick. I don't think you need a whole new phone to do something an app on your existing phone can do.
Use the web browser.