I have had multiple smartphones in my life — many different brands of Android, several BlackBerrys (which I loved and miss!), and one old iPhone I kick around for testing purposes (can’t stand it). I’m not against technology, in fact I make my living in tech as a software engineer. My problem, though, is the more I see how smartphones are being used these days — and the more society pushes us to go along — the less I want to do with it.

Why?

– Smartphones are an addiction. People are glued to their screens so much they are missing out on the real world around them.

– Smartphones have ruined people’s attention spans. Thanks to TikTok, nobody can focus on anything for more than 30 seconds.

– Smartphones are annoying. Constant dings and notifications and bullshit. Talk about information overload!

– Smartphones invade your privacy. Perhaps I’ve seen more than the average person thanks to my work, but at this point its safe to assume your phone is always listening and tracking your movements.

These issues had already pushed me into a state of basically permanently ignoring my phone, except when I specifically need it. I want to be free to work without distractions, to socialize without interruptions, and to spend real quality time with my family. The smartphone has gone from being a positive tool to a general hinderance getting in the way of all these activities.

But the final straw, for me, was when I went to a restaurant that had no menus. NO MENUS! What they had was a QR code at the hostess stand, and before seating anybody the staff would instruct you to scan the code. I stood there watching this, and, to my amazement, EVERY SINGLE PERSON COMPLIED! Not a single person objected to having to pull out their phone. What if your phone is dead? What if you don’t take your phone to dinner? What if you don’t have a smartphone at all? This moment made me realize how far we have fallen as a society. I didn’t comply. I simply left.

I don’t understand how people can be such sheep and go along with whatever they’re told to do… but obviously they do. I can’t. Maybe my life would be easier if I just complied — but I can’t bring myself to do it. I have this silly idea that I ought to be able to go anywhere I want without a phone, without a barcode stamped on my wrist, without being tracked. I don’t have anything to hide, but I also don’t have anything to prove. I just want to… be.

So at that moment I decided to stop carrying a “smart”phone. I have read of other “influencers” dumping their smartphones, so I’m not the first. But I do think there is a nascent “dumbphone” trend coming about, which is only bound to grow in popularity as the smartphone downsides become more and more evident. Sure some people will still be sheep no matter what, but I think a lot of others are waking up to the problems.

I hope that sharing my thoughts and experiences on the topic will help and maybe inspire others.

– Mitch Yoder