I share the feeling about technology and social media, but one thing that's different for me is that I never managed to enjoy swiping stuff from strangers. I actually did put effort into getting used to Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, but it just doesn't work. I don't find it interesting.
So I have a smartphone, and I am happy that it is a full computer because many apps are genuinely useful. For one, messaging apps like Signal (and WhatsApp when needed) work really well. Being able to play chess or go with a stranger online is great: before that I just could not play at all (or rarely). Reading the news is interesting (I don't like to watch them) and I have a small RSS app that shows me when one of my few favourite blogs have an update.
Also it's useful to download maps, and I usually don't even enable the location service, so I actually read the map (unless I'm lost).
I pay with my smartphone, too. We can discuss how it would be better to pay with cash, but I think it's a different debate: it's genuinely useful and it's not an addiction.
All that to say, I don't think that all apps are bad. It's mostly social media. And it is possible to own a smartphone without using social media apps.
> In a dopaminergic delirium I would re-install Safari, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Vine, YouTube, Gmail, Apple News
The trick is to develop a deep and justified hate of social media. Where you don't just delete the apps, but delete your whole account, because of the business practices that sit behind the feed. Then it's not willpower that attempts to keep you away, it's a moral stance and an identity as someone who doesn't use social media. Treat social media the same way most people treat smoking or hard drugs. It isn't willpower that holds them back.
I find going full dumb-phone to be a non-starter in the modern era. I need a smartphone to start work each morning by using an authenticator app to sign into the VPN; this is not optional unless I find a new job. Going to concerts or sporting events also requires a smartphone, as most venues I've been to over the last several years don't support paper tickets anymore. More and more, people without smart phones are locked out of parts of society.
I'm not sure how someone with a dumb phone can function on their own without leaning on others with a smartphone. 20 years ago I knew a girl who kept getting rid of her normal cell phone, at one point going back to a beeper. It was a similar mentality, but she was only able to do it because she was always with other people who had cell phones. This then becomes a burden on friends and family, and the "solution" to the problem can't grow, as the model breaks at scale within a friend group.
More and more, people without smart phones are locked out of parts of society.
I see this on HN a lot but I have never seen it in real life beyond 411. The only thing I ran into thus far was trying to get a tow truck from 411. They refused to just find a random one for me, I had to know the name. The fallback of course was 911. They are not thrilled but I told them 411 no longer works and I am blocking the highway I wasnt. Dispatch can't hold a grudge, I buy them breakfast all the time.
Other than that I can't imagine needing a smart phone and shame on me for not having towing companies in the contacts. I do now.
I wont install an app for anyone for any reason. Local concerts at the fairgrounds just require an entry fee which can be cash. I walk into the bank. They all know me by name. I know all of them by name.
Small venues still often have paper tickets and fairs just have cash at the gate, but at the bigger venues near me it’s the norm to be all digital. They send emails after buying the ticket to remind people that not only are tickets 100% digital (“Your phone is your ticket”), but concessions are also 100% cashless. Tap-to-pay with a card also works, but the phone is the gatekeeper to get in the door, so at that point I might as well use it to pay for other stuff too.
> More and more, people without smart phones are locked out of parts of society.
You and me and everyone should push against this. The authenticator has non-phone alternatives and everything generally should have non-phone alternatives as well, you can be the one to start a class-action lawsuit and get rich (or your attorneys :)
> I'm not sure how someone with a dumb phone can function on their own without leaning on others with a smartphone
100% doable. My Dad functions perfectly and has never owned a smartphone. I also know two other people in my circle of friends, in 30's and 50's without a smartphone. Hassle and inconvenience here and there but the freedom you get is worth it for some people. I have gotten rid of all social media years ago but hard to part with smartphone (though I see it in my future....)
I share the feeling about technology and social media, but one thing that's different for me is that I never managed to enjoy swiping stuff from strangers. I actually did put effort into getting used to Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, but it just doesn't work. I don't find it interesting.
So I have a smartphone, and I am happy that it is a full computer because many apps are genuinely useful. For one, messaging apps like Signal (and WhatsApp when needed) work really well. Being able to play chess or go with a stranger online is great: before that I just could not play at all (or rarely). Reading the news is interesting (I don't like to watch them) and I have a small RSS app that shows me when one of my few favourite blogs have an update.
Also it's useful to download maps, and I usually don't even enable the location service, so I actually read the map (unless I'm lost).
I pay with my smartphone, too. We can discuss how it would be better to pay with cash, but I think it's a different debate: it's genuinely useful and it's not an addiction.
All that to say, I don't think that all apps are bad. It's mostly social media. And it is possible to own a smartphone without using social media apps.
> In a dopaminergic delirium I would re-install Safari, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Vine, YouTube, Gmail, Apple News
The trick is to develop a deep and justified hate of social media. Where you don't just delete the apps, but delete your whole account, because of the business practices that sit behind the feed. Then it's not willpower that attempts to keep you away, it's a moral stance and an identity as someone who doesn't use social media. Treat social media the same way most people treat smoking or hard drugs. It isn't willpower that holds them back.
I find going full dumb-phone to be a non-starter in the modern era. I need a smartphone to start work each morning by using an authenticator app to sign into the VPN; this is not optional unless I find a new job. Going to concerts or sporting events also requires a smartphone, as most venues I've been to over the last several years don't support paper tickets anymore. More and more, people without smart phones are locked out of parts of society.
I'm not sure how someone with a dumb phone can function on their own without leaning on others with a smartphone. 20 years ago I knew a girl who kept getting rid of her normal cell phone, at one point going back to a beeper. It was a similar mentality, but she was only able to do it because she was always with other people who had cell phones. This then becomes a burden on friends and family, and the "solution" to the problem can't grow, as the model breaks at scale within a friend group.
More and more, people without smart phones are locked out of parts of society.
I see this on HN a lot but I have never seen it in real life beyond 411. The only thing I ran into thus far was trying to get a tow truck from 411. They refused to just find a random one for me, I had to know the name. The fallback of course was 911. They are not thrilled but I told them 411 no longer works and I am blocking the highway I wasnt. Dispatch can't hold a grudge, I buy them breakfast all the time.
Other than that I can't imagine needing a smart phone and shame on me for not having towing companies in the contacts. I do now.
I wont install an app for anyone for any reason. Local concerts at the fairgrounds just require an entry fee which can be cash. I walk into the bank. They all know me by name. I know all of them by name.
Small venues still often have paper tickets and fairs just have cash at the gate, but at the bigger venues near me it’s the norm to be all digital. They send emails after buying the ticket to remind people that not only are tickets 100% digital (“Your phone is your ticket”), but concessions are also 100% cashless. Tap-to-pay with a card also works, but the phone is the gatekeeper to get in the door, so at that point I might as well use it to pay for other stuff too.
> More and more, people without smart phones are locked out of parts of society.
You and me and everyone should push against this. The authenticator has non-phone alternatives and everything generally should have non-phone alternatives as well, you can be the one to start a class-action lawsuit and get rich (or your attorneys :)
> I'm not sure how someone with a dumb phone can function on their own without leaning on others with a smartphone
100% doable. My Dad functions perfectly and has never owned a smartphone. I also know two other people in my circle of friends, in 30's and 50's without a smartphone. Hassle and inconvenience here and there but the freedom you get is worth it for some people. I have gotten rid of all social media years ago but hard to part with smartphone (though I see it in my future....)