Hey! I'm just dropping by to say this is so cool that a lot of gen z kids are now getting interested with "dumbphones" as you call them. Just here to share that as 90's kids, me and my gf have decided at some point in our relationship that we both just go back to using old flip phones because we only ever talk to each other and our family. This stemmed from us just wanting to leave social media because it's such an unhealthy world. Probably the best idea we've ever had. Thank you for using your platform to inform other people of this type of lifestyle!
Pre-smartphone and social media era was the funniest Internet and the best ratio between being online and offline. I'm also happy to see Gen Z being more interested in dumb phones.
haha as a gen z im here to remind most of us did have such phones growing up, and not smart phones (at least I did and im currently 20). but im loving that you went back to flip phones yourself and freed yourself from social media toxicity (: its lovely and thank you for sharing!
I actually used one throughout my 4th grade and half of my 5th grade year so it was weird for my classmates to see me with a “dumb phone” while they’re all using modern phones (2016-2017)
Bro this video is such a vibe. I’ve been struggling with my ADHD, and I feel the more distractions I have the more my time is wasted because I cannot control my ability to not be distracted. I needed this video, thank you. Another part that I’d love to hear your thoughts on is decision making, and reducing (or pre-deciding) things in your life so you make as little choices as possible and have the energy to focus on the most important ones.
Thank you for this one. Since I saw you using dumbphone I started questioning my approach of using smartphones and how it's affecting me. I'm so sick of social media's. Might actually get one of those dumbphones and test it out myself. Also happy 2023, may this year bring you lots of health, love and happiness!
Look at getting a cheap android phone (or use the one you have) and debloat it. You can disable all the usual apps and that way you have the functionality and honestly dumb phones are usually slow and just a terrible experience in general (not bad for a deterring use but bad when you need it). I also use fb messenger etc for normal communication so its good to have a hpone that natively supports whatsapp, telegram etc that are legitimately useful apps and maps for navigation etc. Smartphones are a genuinely good tool when they dont control your life and youre intentional with what you use on it
hey, james. just want to say thank you for the effort you put into this channel. you're really helping to change lives. thank you for all the knowledge you spread bro ❤
@@nafizzy im not sure if you mean the guy that talks about how he doesn't have a phone, in case that's who you are talking about, his name is Yuval Noah Harari
Another alternative can be deleting all social media and logging in by your pc on them, this will completely eliminate the chance of distraction outdoors and also indoors to some degree bcz then u have to turn on ur pc n sit in one place, it becomes a little harder than just puting ur hands in your pockets. We can also block pornographic sites on the browsers and also apps like Niagara launcher might also help.
Yes, using social media on the PC can help - I tried that one too - but it only worked for me temporarly. I found myself going back to social media (Instagram, UA-cam, Discord) via my smartphone because my phone was still reachable and logging in through my phone was so much faster. The addictive behaviour came back faster than I could blink xD
honestly now that im down to just youtube and discord i still have this residual issue of checking my phone all the time even tho the only things i have are email and messages and i hardly get either.... i would love a totally closable phone so i can truly just use it to be called with, since most of my friends and i like to talk on the phone rather than text anyways. i also feel like theres a psychological benefit in being able to block the main screen with a cover, rather than have an 'open' slab phone at any moment....... im definitely keeping my current phone until it breaks in probably 3 or so years but like maybe after that ill truly jump to a shitty flip phone lmao
@Emily R put your phone on silent. I get messages, but I don't notice. If it's important they'll call. The only things I use my phone for is yt, reading, time and music.
Yeah, that's the route I really want to go. I would love to get an older iPad that's for chilling at home or on the go - but having an iPhone for iMessage and directions. I really struggle with just scrolling reddit on my phone especially if I'm anxious over anything
Niagara Launcher is amazin, no distraction straight to the point and has everything in ONE Place I've also deleted every social on my phone except for youtube (for music and video essays) and Instagram (people still message me there, idk why) but for the rest it's gone. Mainly TikTok. I had a time limit of 1h per day of TikTok, but that wasn't enough, I became more bored about simple things, craving for more stimuli. So I just delted it Now I feel more relaxed, I sleep regulary 8h and starte recently going to the gym 3xWeek. Crazy to think this started by deleting tiktok :D
James, This semester I applied for and joined a program at my college (Franciscan University) called unplugged where members get rid of their smartphones and get dumbphones. The program is called unplugged and I am really passionate about the program and spreading awareness for the harmful affects of smart phone usage and social media. Thank you so much for making this video it has been so cool to recently see buzz about dumb phones.
Entire video is a vibe. I didn't own a smartphone until I was 21 and it wasn't even because I wanted it. My friend & I were going to Puerto Rico for vacation and he wouldn't have any service there, so it was cheaper for me to get a crappy smartphone with hotspot than getting a wireless hotspot that I only intended on using once. I skipped getting a smartphone when they became a thing because I owned a laptop. Why did I need a phone when my laptop does everything I need to do on day to day? Still trying to pry my grip off of it and go back to flip phone, it's just super annoying to get lost in the doom scroll and lose all the time in a day 😥
The only good thing my smartphone offers is the cameras. 2022 smartphone cameras are simply out of this world. Give me a dumbphone with crazy good cameras and I'm sold. I just want to be able to photograph things on the go or conveniently film my skateboarding. Maybe I'll just buy a dedicated camcorder.
I also got on October a hybrid phone (because not entirely dumb as I have WhatsApp on it) and it really helped me to cure my phone addiction. More than this, I want to thank for all you've done and all the energy you shared on UA-cam, you opened the eyes of many people, including me and if today, I started my UA-cam channel, it's partly thanks to your motivation. Thank you James :)
Please make more teaching videos James, your advice is so important for all of us. You have been through so much and know so much, it is super super valuable!
I recently got into "dump phones" as a way to have fun. I don't know if it is really considered one but I found an iPhone 4 in my closet and thought. Oh shit this is cool, like why do we need so many cameras and such a big phone I'll try to use it. It revealed to be an amazing way to keep my attention up. I love discipline and I'm continuously trying to improve myself and even if I didn't really use much my phone it is a smart way to disconnect and live a real life. Its wonderful to hear so may people sharing these ideas. Thanks for the vid
@@screwdriver4862 every 10 min, beside jokes it actually last a full day with 1h of use only making calls, listening to music and answering messages. Definitely best choice of my life
@@filippovicini2057not a dumb phone, a dumbphone doesn't have an appstore and so many apps. Has the very basic, such as messaging, mp3 player and camera. You can't install whatsapp, facebook, youtube, etc...
I love how the Japanese manufactured flip phones close and make that snappy but soft and slightly bouncy clicking sound. Korean and Chinese phones lack that satisfying click-shut mechanism in the hinge.
Good for you, i was in college when the iphone came out and there was such brutal pressure to get one. My friends would question me at every opportunity, literally harassing me over my aberrant behavior. No one wanted to believe me that these things had potential issues and that you can GAIN something for passing up on the perceived convenience. I have a smartphone now, but I stopped driving and I'd reccommend it to anyone whose lifestyle(and public transportation system) may allow. Everything is a tradeoff. Good to see people recognizing that and making conscious choieces. Especially gen z, you guys are so smart.
For those who want to stick with smartphone for whatever reason, you can turn on super/ultra power saving mode. It'll have only a few apps like call, messages, clock etc. I know it's easy to turn it off but for those who impulsively pick their phones up and start scrolling through social media apps, it helps.
I sometimes feel like the only person who is fine with a smartphone. Coming from PC where I can routinely open hundreds of browser tabs, a smartphone is a breath of fresh air because it forces me to focus on one thing at a time.
Intentional technology use has been a massive desire for me for a while but it seems like there're so many problems to fix with how I use technology that actually starting feels too overwhelming. I really hope you continue with your videos on Dumb Phones. It's something I'm very interested in.
Honestly, this was a very insightful video ! I’m still on a smartphone but I don’t have any socials on it . I like that mental health and attention got mentioned , in my own experience just quitting social media in general worked wonders for my attention span . I used to barely be able to focus for 20 min , now I can focus on a task at hand no matter how long it takes . Technology is great when we control it , but detrimental if we let it control us
hey james, just wanted to comment, you've been a huge role model for me in the past year or so. I feel like I've improved so much as a person thanks to you. I'm so glad you're here and I hope you keep being awesome just the way you are. Love from Cyprus! Happy new year.
Dare to remove a distraction from your life and you're labelled a hipster. Now we're being forced to use smartphones for public services such as travel / healthcare (signing up to required apps) - it's a slippery slope. Dumb phones were a better world for social interaction.
i always wanted to completely shift to a dumb phone, i finally made a decision and got the qin f21 pro. its pretty neat, it has a tiny screen and its compact plus i get to run spotify on it, which is the only app i need. and the fact that i saw that phone first time on one of your vlogs you made in early 2022, i just did a quick research and now im grateful that i've got it. thanks james and i wish you a very happy new year :)
same. I've been looking for one for a while and I found out about the qin f21 through james. I bought one in august and have been using it ever since. Great phone. Something that keeps me off the grid while also keeping me entune w my music through Spotify.
James, you are one of the most comfortable people for me! I'm in love with your "study with me" videos, they really help me with concentration (I have big problems with focusing my attention, your videos always help. like this one is so helpful and important). Many other people think the same, Im sure. U changed my life. And your whole personality is so damn interesting, I hope you will upload more conversational videos because they are amazing. Happy New Year and may this year bring you only the best! Thank u for what you are doing! :з
In India students preparing for any competitive exam buy these phones which can only be used for talking. This helps them stay focused and not get distracted.
i remember seeing you on the dumbphone subreddit a while ago, it's always cool to see another twentysomething who's into weird tech - hope u have a good new year :)
Algorithms have ruined technology. They used to be for accurate searches, now they're just for stealing as much attention as they can. I have this deep longing for just going back to how UA-cam used to work, with searches that actually searched purely based on terms, when the sidebar videos were related just to what you were watching and not things youve seen before or taht have been on your homepage suggestions for a month. It's so frustrating and just makes me use the platform less now.
It'd be great to know how you deal with these lifestyle choices socially. It can get annoying to have people make fun of something like the fact you use an old phone. I also am curious to know what your approach is on allowing yourself certain access to social media. I want to know when you have new uploads but I don't want to get sucked in to youtube once I'm on it. Using extensions like 'Unhook' has helped me but I'm curious about your approach. On a different note - it'd be great to see how you break down your day. I am impressed by the fact you work/study so much and find the time to read/drive/learn outside of school etc. Happy and healthy new year to you and yours James and keep it up.
I showed this video to my high school students and it encouraged some interesting discussion. One small suggestion would be to clean up the occasional profanity, because what you are saying here is very important for the future of humanity and is highly educational. Thanks!
i've been using a dumb phone since 2018 for the same reasons and it's nice to know someone else has been too :) recently though, I've been thinking of switching to the jelly phone that you recommended in one of your other videos bc things like qr code menus and google maps. will really miss my old flip phone thoughhh. thanks sm for the video!! also cool goodreads too :)
james, thank you so much for using your knowledge to help people. I love your videos and I always learn more and more from you. happy new year bro may 2023 be a wonderful year for you ❤
Yeah I think as gen Z we care too much about what other people think, maybe social media played a big part in that, so getting a dumbphone is a good idea to combat it. We have all these ideas of what we should or shouldn't do, what's normal and what isn't. I was pretty low looking at pics from people spending time with friends on New Year's, thinking about how pathetic it is of me to be alone on New Year's Eve (due to chronic illness). But then Heleen was streaming! I stayed up with Heleen studying yesterday until it hit midnight and it was a pretty damn good evening 😂 She was also worried that her family would find it weird. But whatever, who cares what people think!! Happy New Year 🥳🎉 My goal is to program my first app in Flutter this year
I'm glad you made this video, thanks so much. I found out about your channel right after my first semester of college ended last year, and I was hit with a huge wave of motivation to increase the amount of control I have over my technological life and try to improve my academic habits. I saw in some of your previous videos that you liked the Jelly 2. I thought that would be a great transition for me since it would still allow for some of the tools that I utilize frequently (receiving text messages from family, maps, calculator, and flashlight). I would like to make a change before the next semester starts, and I see that there is the Jelly 2E now, which I think I will end up getting. If you have any input on that decision, I'd be more than appreciative to hear it (mainly on the technological side). But I also am curious, my main concern is not having the ability to take quality photos and videos. I wonder, did you find this to be a hard hurdle to overcome? Do you use a separate camera specifically for that purpose, or don't you really care about the ability to take photos and videos? Thanks man, happy new year.
Im 24 and have so much I want to do and I'm just tired of relying on my phone all the time. I think its also super unattractive when I see people always on their phones. I'm not against technology or phones in general but I agree when you said tech is supposed to help and at least for me its been hurting more than helping.
I feel like this is the most suitable for young kids and teenagers. This can help them get away from social media and focus more on themselves rather than keep on scrolling in such a young age
Been peeling back a lot of social media time outside of UA-cam. I definitely feel like it has been helping my focus and attention in the last few months!
you've helped me a lot james :) thank you. I read once a comment of yours were you said you weren't interested on doing a clothes haul, however i just wanted to say that if sometime you cheer up about it, i'd be glad. i love your style. it also inspires me. saludos desde Chile hermanito
6:52 -> Luckily, I've seen an increase in attention saving features in modern software, with powerful Do Not Disturb modes and app-specific notification management. Personally, if my phone makes a notification sound, I know it means I got a text from my Mom, because I've turned off notifications for basically everything else. On the latest version of Android, I believe it is possible to practice an intentional, thoughtful lifestyle without resorting to a dumb phone. But I get why you like them nonetheless :)
I've been using the Qin F21 Pro for a week or so now and I used the Punkt MP02 before that. I love it because I barely use my phone now - it's refreshing.
I'm really glad you made this. As a 21 year old who switched into using a dumb phone early 2022, I relate a lot to what you mentioned. So much so, that it almost inspires me to make a similar video myself. There are a lot of things like "cognitive off loading" that make us overly reliant on tech, and I feel being still with one's mind can really teach them something. When it comes to emergencies, I keep my laptop around and connect via hotspot, and there are really no differences in functionality, only intentionality. Cheers
P.S., things like RSS have also proven to be helpful to really curate information. Can connect it with twitter etc. and still get what I want without digging around the algorithm
I lived my life without any phones and it was amazing. your mind is clear and you have control over your life with a great version of your self. But since age of 15 I start using phones ( they really just three ) my life just changed. I start using them because I didn't know what to do in the village, and no one guide me I was on my own, so I lived among my sines but I'm not saying anything about them because I'm now leaving all this after seven years of nothing except guilt. So I chosed PALMA to be my saver with my laptop and the ipad. YOU'RE THE REASON OF YOUR ACTIONS, DON'T BLAME ANY THING ELSE. SO SAVE YOUR SELF AND THOSE WHO YOU LOVE
Yepp! Smart phones really does shift away your focus. I feel like having a dumb phone as well, basically a folding one, but I'm sure mom's not gonna like it ( you know, unnecessary purchase for her). Maybe sooner or later! BTW James, I finished my high school 6 months ago and I've been doing nothing at the moment. Can you suggest me some ways to spend time productively? I did some research and I wanted to hear from my study idol too! And Happy New Year James!!
james, thank you for creating this channel. your videos are helping me a lot and now I look up to you as a role model in my student life. please keep uploading.
Hey, James thanks a lot for the video, I’m also thinking about buying a dumb phone because Im getting distracted pretty easily these days. What you said is sooo true. Anyway as I said I am pretty distracted these days mainly because of daydreaming which is like my escape mechanism at this point because of not getting into medical school and other depressing part of my life. Can you give any advice about what to do regarding this if you got any idea?? I feel soo overwhelmed and frustrated these days
I'm loving the content, this has got me thinking of how to downscale my tech use. Ive recently had an interest in old phones and sure enough I run into your channel, while it isnt old phones your talking about this video was informative and eye opening forsure
if i could get used to the dumbphone again i would , smarthphone is too useful to search stuff up on the spot (also stuck with a provider) , but what i did was i removed all the socials i had (cause stories/reels suck and i get sucked into them too often ) got to say , got much better , but none the less , good videos my man , oh and hope you have a happy new year
Bro u literally changed me... From the time I watch ur video "how I study for 12 hours per day" My GPA improve My studying technics My relationships My life in general Thank you bro I hope you the best 💗
my man youse come back again with a another amazing video I've taken my first baby step into detoxing by deleting social media from my phone and saving it to a small block during the day on my iPad at home. great video man!!!
I would love to do this. I just wish there was some kind of device that is like a mp3 player but for Spotify. I love my Spotify. A device that doesn't have access to anything else other than Spotify. (So apparently all it took was a quick Google search to find out these things exist haha, I'm happy about that!)
I've recently upgraded from a 1st gen iPhone SE to an iPhone 14 Pro. I use my phone a lot for work and productivity, so naturally the SE was starting to lag behind and an upgrade was much needed - I can now do a lot more with much better quality. However, only recently did I realize the negative impact this phone had in my life. Because of how much more capable it is, I've inevitably become more drawn to it. I've installed new apps, subscribed to new services and, as a consequence, my screen time increased dramatically to the point where I've stopped doing other activities - the kinds that actually make you feel good - and being as present in general. As a work tool it has undoubtedly helped me, but the flip side is that it became a huge distraction. I have previously gotten rid of all my online accounts - at least as many as I could get a hold of - and started using an older smartphone that definitely wouldn't tempt me to any distractions. However, you eventually become a nuisance because your friends and family can't get a hold of you, and can even affect your professional life. As mentioned in the video, you should adopt ways of not being distracted by smartphones and social media, but you must realize that you live in 2023 and using those services is "the norm" nowadays. Maybe the fact that my se was becoming a burden, slow and obsolete was a blessing in disguise and, for that and many other reasons, I kind of miss it. Cheers!
Hey this video was really well said! I really agree with everything you said and have been looking to get another dumbphone since my schok classic broke last year. I got a used iphone mini since i thought it would help but i’m right back on my phone too much (although it doesn’t help i live really far out from town & ppl i know). I have a quick question, do you know if any japanese dumbphones work in the states? I feel like they’re way better than the ones here, it’s just too bad 2G and 3G shutdown, or else i’d be rocking a motorola razr lol
the first video i watched from your channel is how to detox with minimalist phones, which was two years ago. you somewhat inspired me back then, but i guess i forgot. and went on with life. today, i found this video recommended to me, and i feel like this might be a real calling for me. these days i have thought of buying a flip phone, preferably japanese flip phones since a lot of japanese use it in their daily lives, and i thought i can at least have whatsapp installed in the phone (since i communicate w my families using whatsapp). i already have my ipad which i use as my main media consumption device, but i still go on my phone to scroll twitter. i have been trying hard to limit my time on twitter, and while it works sometimes, it doesn’t most of the time. maybe i need to get one flip phone quick. im a gen z myself, and i always try to limit my time with smartphone ie not using them when im outside. thanks for sharing this video. you’re truly a great inspiration.
Kinda considering maybe downgrading from my iPhone 11 to a 2016 SE. Or I was thinking about keeping my current phone or getting the 13 mini, putting some restrictions on it and having a friend or relative put a passcode on it so I can't get past the restrictions. Thoughts? Edit: I also just wanna thank you for being 100% you! You've been an inspiration to me and many others. Because of you I've also started getting more into dumbphones, digital minimalism and retro tech like CRT monitors. Would love to have a similar setup like yours in the future! Also how does the F22 compare to the F21? I have the F21, but the only thing that's keeping me from using it full time is not being able to transfer my whatsapp messages from my iPhone to Android.
If you want a small phone with good features go with 13 mini...but if you just wanna save money then buy whatever budget phone you like... Are you talking about S21 and S22 by Samsung? If yes then go with S22 it's better than S21 but if you just want an android i would suggest to go with pixel 7
the 13 mini is wayyyy too good to be a dumbphone, from personal experience lol. the 2016 se is great, especially if you can find it on an older ios version that won’t allow you to download apps anymore, so basically just stock apps work (that’s what i’m trying to do)
I really like dumb phones, but in my point of view a dumb OS would be a better alternative, so I could still access things like: great camera, high screen brightness, usb debugging (for android development), and a few limited applications for basic communication. Is there any ROM out there with the capabilities I mentioned? Or is there some diy option to achieve a distraction free experience with root (somehow disable the option to download apps for example)
I just hope social media is gonna be less of a requirement for young people in the future. I really just want to delete instagram etc. but at the same time i want to keep in touch with my peers. Wish more people realized how useless it is lol
Great video. I had a question regarding notetaking. What is your preferred method for taking notes? I’m out of school but would like to maybe start taking notes on things I learn but don’t know exactly the best method for notetaking on “life long learning” I feel the old school pen and paper I won’t utilize/waste of paper and digital notetaking can feel a bit unconnected
Just have some damn discipline and don't look at your phone all the time. Smartphones have updated maps, live communication, GPS, translators. and a reliable way for people to reach you in emergencies. They make travelling and moving around safer and easier. I don't get why someone would do this besides being quirky
I'm an older gen z and I'm genuinely thinking about getting a dumb phone, I already stopped using my smartphone at home, I only use my tablet to watch UA-cam and read ghosts stories on reddit before going to bed.. I'm way happier without Instagram and WPP, everytime now I see my friends I feel so happy and excited I also started reading more books, I used to read a lot when I was a kid, and I'm way more present in real life instead of daydreaming all day
Pretty cool, another alternative would be getting the plan with the least data, this way it will incentivize you to not get on as social media/phone as much. And you'll save money too.
I got me a tcl classic after going phoneless all summer, you start to notice how cool the world actually is without a smartphone in your pocket begging for your attention 24/7.
2023 😳
Real
happy new year
😳
How are you 😊☺?
brroooooo whn will yo start doing live streams
I really passed nursing school cause of this dude.. all those 12 hours study videos helped me focus to get where im at rn.. thank you so much.
Congratulations, that's awesome to hear (●'◡'●)
@@8pija22 thank you. i hope everyone will get to their goals in life.
@@giancarlocoloma5578 their*
@@TedEhioghae grrr
Im in nursing school rn too, and those 12 hour study videos come in clutch
Hey! I'm just dropping by to say this is so cool that a lot of gen z kids are now getting interested with "dumbphones" as you call them. Just here to share that as 90's kids, me and my gf have decided at some point in our relationship that we both just go back to using old flip phones because we only ever talk to each other and our family. This stemmed from us just wanting to leave social media because it's such an unhealthy world. Probably the best idea we've ever had. Thank you for using your platform to inform other people of this type of lifestyle!
Pre-smartphone and social media era was the funniest Internet and the best ratio between being online and offline.
I'm also happy to see Gen Z being more interested in dumb phones.
honestly I'm shock they're calling these dumbphones ;~; these phones were the bomb back then HAHA (im getting old, faaaaqueee)
@@dancingdrunktilidrop same, the term really does give you whiplash 😅 it's alright, getting old is a part of living, don't sweat it!
haha as a gen z im here to remind most of us did have such phones growing up, and not smart phones (at least I did and im currently 20). but im loving that you went back to flip phones yourself and freed yourself from social media toxicity (: its lovely and thank you for sharing!
I actually used one throughout my 4th grade and half of my 5th grade year so it was weird for my classmates to see me with a “dumb phone” while they’re all using modern phones (2016-2017)
Bro this video is such a vibe. I’ve been struggling with my ADHD, and I feel the more distractions I have the more my time is wasted because I cannot control my ability to not be distracted.
I needed this video, thank you.
Another part that I’d love to hear your thoughts on is decision making, and reducing (or pre-deciding) things in your life so you make as little choices as possible and have the energy to focus on the most important ones.
Hope u get well.
Thank you for this one. Since I saw you using dumbphone I started questioning my approach of using smartphones and how it's affecting me. I'm so sick of social media's. Might actually get one of those dumbphones and test it out myself. Also happy 2023, may this year bring you lots of health, love and happiness!
thank u, happy newyear😳
you also might consider wolfgang's video on dumbphones, just as other opinion
Anyone know the "gramps" on the book cover in his video?
@@nafizzy Yuval Noah Harari :)
Look at getting a cheap android phone (or use the one you have) and debloat it. You can disable all the usual apps and that way you have the functionality and honestly dumb phones are usually slow and just a terrible experience in general (not bad for a deterring use but bad when you need it). I also use fb messenger etc for normal communication so its good to have a hpone that natively supports whatsapp, telegram etc that are legitimately useful apps and maps for navigation etc.
Smartphones are a genuinely good tool when they dont control your life and youre intentional with what you use on it
hey, james. just want to say thank you for the effort you put into this channel. you're really helping to change lives. thank you for all the knowledge you spread bro ❤
thanksbro😳
@@jvscholz Is ( 😳 ) ur 😳
Anyone know the "gramps" on the book cover in his video?
@@nafizzy im not sure if you mean the guy that talks about how he doesn't have a phone, in case that's who you are talking about, his name is Yuval Noah Harari
Nah the one with a fully grown beard
Another alternative can be deleting all social media and logging in by your pc on them, this will completely eliminate the chance of distraction outdoors and also indoors to some degree bcz then u have to turn on ur pc n sit in one place, it becomes a little harder than just puting ur hands in your pockets. We can also block pornographic sites on the browsers and also apps like Niagara launcher might also help.
Yes, using social media on the PC can help - I tried that one too - but it only worked for me temporarly. I found myself going back to social media (Instagram, UA-cam, Discord) via my smartphone because my phone was still reachable and logging in through my phone was so much faster. The addictive behaviour came back faster than I could blink xD
honestly now that im down to just youtube and discord i still have this residual issue of checking my phone all the time even tho the only things i have are email and messages and i hardly get either.... i would love a totally closable phone so i can truly just use it to be called with, since most of my friends and i like to talk on the phone rather than text anyways. i also feel like theres a psychological benefit in being able to block the main screen with a cover, rather than have an 'open' slab phone at any moment....... im definitely keeping my current phone until it breaks in probably 3 or so years but like maybe after that ill truly jump to a shitty flip phone lmao
@Emily R put your phone on silent. I get messages, but I don't notice. If it's important they'll call. The only things I use my phone for is yt, reading, time and music.
Yeah, that's the route I really want to go. I would love to get an older iPad that's for chilling at home or on the go - but having an iPhone for iMessage and directions. I really struggle with just scrolling reddit on my phone especially if I'm anxious over anything
Niagara Launcher is amazin, no distraction straight to the point and has everything in ONE Place
I've also deleted every social on my phone except for youtube (for music and video essays) and Instagram (people still message me there, idk why) but for the rest it's gone. Mainly TikTok. I had a time limit of 1h per day of TikTok, but that wasn't enough, I became more bored about simple things, craving for more stimuli. So I just delted it
Now I feel more relaxed, I sleep regulary 8h and starte recently going to the gym 3xWeek.
Crazy to think this started by deleting tiktok :D
James,
This semester I applied for and joined a program at my college (Franciscan University) called unplugged where members get rid of their smartphones and get dumbphones. The program is called unplugged and I am really passionate about the program and spreading awareness for the harmful affects of smart phone usage and social media. Thank you so much for making this video it has been so cool to recently see buzz about dumb phones.
That’s really really interesting! Had no idea that was such a thing!
Entire video is a vibe.
I didn't own a smartphone until I was 21 and it wasn't even because I wanted it. My friend & I were going to Puerto Rico for vacation and he wouldn't have any service there, so it was cheaper for me to get a crappy smartphone with hotspot than getting a wireless hotspot that I only intended on using once. I skipped getting a smartphone when they became a thing because I owned a laptop. Why did I need a phone when my laptop does everything I need to do on day to day?
Still trying to pry my grip off of it and go back to flip phone, it's just super annoying to get lost in the doom scroll and lose all the time in a day 😥
yeah im rooting foru😳
@@jvscholz 😳
The only good thing my smartphone offers is the cameras. 2022 smartphone cameras are simply out of this world. Give me a dumbphone with crazy good cameras and I'm sold. I just want to be able to photograph things on the go or conveniently film my skateboarding. Maybe I'll just buy a dedicated camcorder.
Anyone know the "gramps" on the book cover in his video?
" is a vibe"
Can you explain what this means?
It seems like kids on social media just repeat this for no reason.
I also got on October a hybrid phone (because not entirely dumb as I have WhatsApp on it) and it really helped me to cure my phone addiction. More than this, I want to thank for all you've done and all the energy you shared on UA-cam, you opened the eyes of many people, including me and if today, I started my UA-cam channel, it's partly thanks to your motivation. Thank you James :)
What’s it called ?
@@pranavsantosh3372 The phone?
@@siratlyde yes
@@siratlyde I'd actually like to know as well. Do you have the name of the phone ? :)
yesyes tell us
Please make more teaching videos James, your advice is so important for all of us. You have been through so much and know so much, it is super super valuable!
Needed this video , my reliance on social media and my smart phone is getting out of hand , great to see you back James !
I recently got into "dump phones" as a way to have fun. I don't know if it is really considered one but I found an iPhone 4 in my closet and thought. Oh shit this is cool, like why do we need so many cameras and such a big phone I'll try to use it. It revealed to be an amazing way to keep my attention up. I love discipline and I'm continuously trying to improve myself and even if I didn't really use much my phone it is a smart way to disconnect and live a real life.
Its wonderful to hear so may people sharing these ideas. Thanks for the vid
The last great iPhone
@@mdiheroand that was the last time I had an iPhone, I miss it
How often do you charge your phone? Every 2 hours?
@@screwdriver4862 every 10 min, beside jokes it actually last a full day with 1h of use only making calls, listening to music and answering messages. Definitely best choice of my life
@@filippovicini2057not a dumb phone, a dumbphone doesn't have an appstore and so many apps. Has the very basic, such as messaging, mp3 player and camera. You can't install whatsapp, facebook, youtube, etc...
I love how the Japanese manufactured flip phones close and make that snappy but soft and slightly bouncy clicking sound. Korean and Chinese phones lack that satisfying click-shut mechanism in the hinge.
Good for you, i was in college when the iphone came out and there was such brutal pressure to get one. My friends would question me at every opportunity, literally harassing me over my aberrant behavior. No one wanted to believe me that these things had potential issues and that you can GAIN something for passing up on the perceived convenience. I have a smartphone now, but I stopped driving and I'd reccommend it to anyone whose lifestyle(and public transportation system) may allow.
Everything is a tradeoff. Good to see people recognizing that and making conscious choieces. Especially gen z, you guys are so smart.
For those who want to stick with smartphone for whatever reason, you can turn on super/ultra power saving mode. It'll have only a few apps like call, messages, clock etc. I know it's easy to turn it off but for those who impulsively pick their phones up and start scrolling through social media apps, it helps.
Great tip! thanks!
@@ReubeCGX Samsung has that feature
@@ReubeCGXHuawei too
i wish they created a dumbphone with spotify. thats all i need
I sometimes feel like the only person who is fine with a smartphone. Coming from PC where I can routinely open hundreds of browser tabs, a smartphone is a breath of fresh air because it forces me to focus on one thing at a time.
Intentional technology use has been a massive desire for me for a while but it seems like there're so many problems to fix with how I use technology that actually starting feels too overwhelming. I really hope you continue with your videos on Dumb Phones. It's something I'm very interested in.
Honestly, this was a very insightful video ! I’m still on a smartphone but I don’t have any socials on it . I like that mental health and attention got mentioned , in my own experience just quitting social media in general worked wonders for my attention span . I used to barely be able to focus for 20 min , now I can focus on a task at hand no matter how long it takes . Technology is great when we control it , but detrimental if we let it control us
hey james, just wanted to comment, you've been a huge role model for me in the past year or so. I feel like I've improved so much as a person thanks to you. I'm so glad you're here and I hope you keep being awesome just the way you are. Love from Cyprus! Happy new year.
Dare to remove a distraction from your life and you're labelled a hipster. Now we're being forced to use smartphones for public services such as travel / healthcare (signing up to required apps) - it's a slippery slope. Dumb phones were a better world for social interaction.
Been missin' this dude, happy new year and thank you for keeping so many of us occupied through some weird times.
hny😳
i always wanted to completely shift to a dumb phone, i finally made a decision and got the qin f21 pro. its pretty neat, it has a tiny screen and its compact plus i get to run spotify on it, which is the only app i need. and the fact that i saw that phone first time on one of your vlogs you made in early 2022, i just did a quick research and now im grateful that i've got it. thanks james and i wish you a very happy new year :)
same. I've been looking for one for a while and I found out about the qin f21 through james. I bought one in august and have been using it ever since. Great phone. Something that keeps me off the grid while also keeping me entune w my music through Spotify.
Your content inspired me a lot and it helped me get thorugh college !! , thank you James wishing you a great year ahead !!.
James, you are one of the most comfortable people for me! I'm in love with your "study with me" videos, they really help me with concentration (I have big problems with focusing my attention, your videos always help. like this one is so helpful and important). Many other people think the same, Im sure. U changed my life. And your whole personality is so damn interesting, I hope you will upload more conversational videos because they are amazing. Happy New Year and may this year bring you only the best! Thank u for what you are doing! :з
thanks, happynew year too😳
@@jvscholz 😳
In India students preparing for any competitive exam buy these phones which can only be used for talking. This helps them stay focused and not get distracted.
i remember seeing you on the dumbphone subreddit a while ago, it's always cool to see another twentysomething who's into weird tech - hope u have a good new year :)
i love how real this guy is
Algorithms have ruined technology. They used to be for accurate searches, now they're just for stealing as much attention as they can. I have this deep longing for just going back to how UA-cam used to work, with searches that actually searched purely based on terms, when the sidebar videos were related just to what you were watching and not things youve seen before or taht have been on your homepage suggestions for a month. It's so frustrating and just makes me use the platform less now.
It'd be great to know how you deal with these lifestyle choices socially. It can get annoying to have people make fun of something like the fact you use an old phone. I also am curious to know what your approach is on allowing yourself certain access to social media. I want to know when you have new uploads but I don't want to get sucked in to youtube once I'm on it. Using extensions like 'Unhook' has helped me but I'm curious about your approach. On a different note - it'd be great to see how you break down your day. I am impressed by the fact you work/study so much and find the time to read/drive/learn outside of school etc. Happy and healthy new year to you and yours James and keep it up.
@@EggEnjoyer Dang that sounds pretty good. Thanks 🤔
I showed this video to my high school students and it encouraged some interesting discussion. One small suggestion would be to clean up the occasional profanity, because what you are saying here is very important for the future of humanity and is highly educational. Thanks!
i've been using a dumb phone since 2018 for the same reasons and it's nice to know someone else has been too :) recently though, I've been thinking of switching to the jelly phone that you recommended in one of your other videos bc things like qr code menus and google maps. will really miss my old flip phone thoughhh. thanks sm for the video!! also cool goodreads too :)
james, thank you so much for using your knowledge to help people. I love your videos and I always learn more and more from you. happy new year bro may 2023 be a wonderful year for you ❤
Yeah I think as gen Z we care too much about what other people think, maybe social media played a big part in that, so getting a dumbphone is a good idea to combat it. We have all these ideas of what we should or shouldn't do, what's normal and what isn't. I was pretty low looking at pics from people spending time with friends on New Year's, thinking about how pathetic it is of me to be alone on New Year's Eve (due to chronic illness). But then Heleen was streaming! I stayed up with Heleen studying yesterday until it hit midnight and it was a pretty damn good evening 😂 She was also worried that her family would find it weird. But whatever, who cares what people think!! Happy New Year 🥳🎉 My goal is to program my first app in Flutter this year
PERFECT TIMING., i just brought a dumb phone a week ago and i needed motivation to switch to it
JUST DO IT.
I'm glad you made this video, thanks so much. I found out about your channel right after my first semester of college ended last year, and I was hit with a huge wave of motivation to increase the amount of control I have over my technological life and try to improve my academic habits. I saw in some of your previous videos that you liked the Jelly 2. I thought that would be a great transition for me since it would still allow for some of the tools that I utilize frequently (receiving text messages from family, maps, calculator, and flashlight). I would like to make a change before the next semester starts, and I see that there is the Jelly 2E now, which I think I will end up getting.
If you have any input on that decision, I'd be more than appreciative to hear it (mainly on the technological side). But I also am curious, my main concern is not having the ability to take quality photos and videos. I wonder, did you find this to be a hard hurdle to overcome? Do you use a separate camera specifically for that purpose, or don't you really care about the ability to take photos and videos?
Thanks man, happy new year.
I'm 110% with your mindset for this whole dumbphone topic.You're real one human, truly thanks for being
Im 24 and have so much I want to do and I'm just tired of relying on my phone all the time. I think its also super unattractive when I see people always on their phones. I'm not against technology or phones in general but I agree when you said tech is supposed to help and at least for me its been hurting more than helping.
Happy new year James 😳❤️ you've been an inspiration to me and help me go through difficult times in my life !!!! Wishing u a great year ahead
I feel like this is the most suitable for young kids and teenagers. This can help them get away from social media and focus more on themselves rather than keep on scrolling in such a young age
Been peeling back a lot of social media time outside of UA-cam. I definitely feel like it has been helping my focus and attention in the last few months!
jamesssssssss
every time is such a pleasure
happy 2023!
Thank you so much James. I always wanted to use a dumb phone but wasn’t sure how to do it. This video is really helpful. Also, happy New Year
happy new year😳
@@jvscholz 😳
you've helped me a lot james :) thank you. I read once a comment of yours were you said you weren't interested on doing a clothes haul, however i just wanted to say that if sometime you cheer up about it, i'd be glad. i love your style. it also inspires me. saludos desde Chile hermanito
6:52 -> Luckily, I've seen an increase in attention saving features in modern software, with powerful Do Not Disturb modes and app-specific notification management. Personally, if my phone makes a notification sound, I know it means I got a text from my Mom, because I've turned off notifications for basically everything else. On the latest version of Android, I believe it is possible to practice an intentional, thoughtful lifestyle without resorting to a dumb phone. But I get why you like them nonetheless :)
Yes this. Everything is silent except texts from select people so can’t feel it go off for random stuff like emails
I want a dumbphone that I can still use google maps on, that would be the ultimate phone.
I've been using the Qin F21 Pro for a week or so now and I used the Punkt MP02 before that. I love it because I barely use my phone now - it's refreshing.
sick😳
@@jvscholz 😳
i dont know but you should do a podcast or a audiobook about your lifestyle or something similar, i really like the tone of your voice
I'm really glad you made this. As a 21 year old who switched into using a dumb phone early 2022, I relate a lot to what you mentioned. So much so, that it almost inspires me to make a similar video myself.
There are a lot of things like "cognitive off loading" that make us overly reliant on tech, and I feel being still with one's mind can really teach them something.
When it comes to emergencies, I keep my laptop around and connect via hotspot, and there are really no differences in functionality, only intentionality. Cheers
P.S., things like RSS have also proven to be helpful to really curate information. Can connect it with twitter etc. and still get what I want without digging around the algorithm
I lived my life without any phones and it was amazing. your mind is clear and you have control over your life with a great version of your self. But since age of 15 I start using phones ( they really just three ) my life just changed. I start using them because I didn't know what to do in the village, and no one guide me I was on my own, so I lived among my sines but I'm not saying anything about them because I'm now leaving all this after seven years of nothing except guilt. So I chosed PALMA to be my saver with my laptop and the ipad.
YOU'RE THE REASON OF YOUR ACTIONS, DON'T BLAME ANY THING ELSE. SO SAVE YOUR SELF AND THOSE WHO YOU LOVE
You motivate me to study longer and be more efficient
You motivated me to close this video and go on about my day
Yepp! Smart phones really does shift away your focus. I feel like having a dumb phone as well, basically a folding one, but I'm sure mom's not gonna like it ( you know, unnecessary purchase for her). Maybe sooner or later!
BTW James, I finished my high school 6 months ago and I've been doing nothing at the moment. Can you suggest me some ways to spend time productively? I did some research and I wanted to hear from my study idol too!
And Happy New Year James!!
how about make money doing sumn creative
If you already graduated why would your Mom buy you a phone
@@ozzfilmz welcome to Asia bro ..
I am graduate still my mom buy me stuff
james, thank you for creating this channel. your videos are helping me a lot and now I look up to you as a role model in my student life. please keep uploading.
Hey, James thanks a lot for the video, I’m also thinking about buying a dumb phone because Im getting distracted pretty easily these days. What you said is sooo true. Anyway as I said I am pretty distracted these days mainly because of daydreaming which is like my escape mechanism at this point because of not getting into medical school and other depressing part of my life. Can you give any advice about what to do regarding this if you got any idea?? I feel soo overwhelmed and frustrated these days
reddit dumbphones sub is a good spot for info
Thanks man 👍
I'm loving the content, this has got me thinking of how to downscale my tech use. Ive recently had an interest in old phones and sure enough I run into your channel, while it isnt old phones your talking about this video was informative and eye opening forsure
0:27 bro tried to sneak it in 💀
if i could get used to the dumbphone again i would , smarthphone is too useful to search stuff up on the spot (also stuck with a provider) , but what i did was i removed all the socials i had (cause stories/reels suck and i get sucked into them too often ) got to say , got much better , but none the less , good videos my man , oh and hope you have a happy new year
Bro u literally changed me...
From the time I watch ur video "how I study for 12 hours per day"
My GPA improve
My studying technics
My relationships
My life in general
Thank you bro
I hope you the best 💗
😳
@@jvscholz 😳
this is the first video i see from your channel but i feel like you're a really great person
I love it when James post videos about his vintage collections. Phones, computers, keyboards, laptops and old ipods, love them all!
my man youse come back again with a another amazing video I've taken my first baby step into detoxing by deleting social media from my phone and saving it to a small block during the day on my iPad at home. great video man!!!
I would love to do this. I just wish there was some kind of device that is like a mp3 player but for Spotify. I love my Spotify. A device that doesn't have access to anything else other than Spotify. (So apparently all it took was a quick Google search to find out these things exist haha, I'm happy about that!)
Which one?
legit same, i have premium as well so i don’t want to like not use it + all my local files, playlists etc
I might consider using one of those, since from a while back ive been noticing more and more addiction to my phone
😳
- james probably
😳
I've recently upgraded from a 1st gen iPhone SE to an iPhone 14 Pro. I use my phone a lot for work and productivity, so naturally the SE was starting to lag behind and an upgrade was much needed - I can now do a lot more with much better quality. However, only recently did I realize the negative impact this phone had in my life.
Because of how much more capable it is, I've inevitably become more drawn to it. I've installed new apps, subscribed to new services and, as a consequence, my screen time increased dramatically to the point where I've stopped doing other activities - the kinds that actually make you feel good - and being as present in general. As a work tool it has undoubtedly helped me, but the flip side is that it became a huge distraction.
I have previously gotten rid of all my online accounts - at least as many as I could get a hold of - and started using an older smartphone that definitely wouldn't tempt me to any distractions. However, you eventually become a nuisance because your friends and family can't get a hold of you, and can even affect your professional life. As mentioned in the video, you should adopt ways of not being distracted by smartphones and social media, but you must realize that you live in 2023 and using those services is "the norm" nowadays.
Maybe the fact that my se was becoming a burden, slow and obsolete was a blessing in disguise and, for that and many other reasons, I kind of miss it.
Cheers!
You know any dumb phones that can run Spotify and support wifi calling?
Qin f22 pro , cat s22 flip , unihertz jelly 2
you're on a level I aspire to reach, amazing description btw
Hey this video was really well said! I really agree with everything you said and have been looking to get another dumbphone since my schok classic broke last year. I got a used iphone mini since i thought it would help but i’m right back on my phone too much (although it doesn’t help i live really far out from town & ppl i know). I have a quick question, do you know if any japanese dumbphones work in the states? I feel like they’re way better than the ones here, it’s just too bad 2G and 3G shutdown, or else i’d be rocking a motorola razr lol
the first video i watched from your channel is how to detox with minimalist phones, which was two years ago. you somewhat inspired me back then, but i guess i forgot. and went on with life. today, i found this video recommended to me, and i feel like this might be a real calling for me. these days i have thought of buying a flip phone, preferably japanese flip phones since a lot of japanese use it in their daily lives, and i thought i can at least have whatsapp installed in the phone (since i communicate w my families using whatsapp). i already have my ipad which i use as my main media consumption device, but i still go on my phone to scroll twitter. i have been trying hard to limit my time on twitter, and while it works sometimes, it doesn’t most of the time. maybe i need to get one flip phone quick. im a gen z myself, and i always try to limit my time with smartphone ie not using them when im outside. thanks for sharing this video. you’re truly a great inspiration.
Kinda considering maybe downgrading from my iPhone 11 to a 2016 SE.
Or I was thinking about keeping my current phone or getting the 13 mini, putting some restrictions on it and having a friend or relative put a passcode on it so I can't get past the restrictions. Thoughts?
Edit: I also just wanna thank you for being 100% you! You've been an inspiration to me and many others. Because of you I've also started getting more into dumbphones, digital minimalism and retro tech like CRT monitors. Would love to have a similar setup like yours in the future!
Also how does the F22 compare to the F21? I have the F21, but the only thing that's keeping me from using it full time is not being able to transfer my whatsapp messages from my iPhone to Android.
If you want a small phone with good features go with 13 mini...but if you just wanna save money then buy whatever budget phone you like...
Are you talking about S21 and S22 by Samsung? If yes then go with S22 it's better than S21 but if you just want an android i would suggest to go with pixel 7
the 13 mini is wayyyy too good to be a dumbphone, from personal experience lol. the 2016 se is great, especially if you can find it on an older ios version that won’t allow you to download apps anymore, so basically just stock apps work (that’s what i’m trying to do)
I just want to say: Happy new year James!!! I hope you can do more content about your lifestyle for us in 2023!
hny😳
@@jvscholz 😳
I really like dumb phones, but in my point of view a dumb OS would be a better alternative, so I could still access things like: great camera, high screen brightness, usb debugging (for android development), and a few limited applications for basic communication. Is there any ROM out there with the capabilities I mentioned? Or is there some diy option to achieve a distraction free experience with root (somehow disable the option to download apps for example)
I just hope social media is gonna be less of a requirement for young people in the future. I really just want to delete instagram etc. but at the same time i want to keep in touch with my peers. Wish more people realized how useless it is lol
as a person with ADHD i randomly found this video at 2 am and it just changed me.
That’s me rn
Hi James, when are you gonna do your next stream?
in like 2 weeks
@@jvscholz Alr thanks, ill be on!
Hay James, Happy New Year! Glad you decided to stay on UA-cam, you definitely create a special space on here.
Great video. I had a question regarding notetaking. What is your preferred method for taking notes? I’m out of school but would like to maybe start taking notes on things I learn but don’t know exactly the best method for notetaking on “life long learning”
I feel the old school pen and paper I won’t utilize/waste of paper and digital notetaking can feel a bit unconnected
Thank you for uploading this, genuinely
Just have some damn discipline and don't look at your phone all the time. Smartphones have updated maps, live communication, GPS, translators. and a reliable way for people to reach you in emergencies. They make travelling and moving around safer and easier. I don't get why someone would do this besides being quirky
what's wrong with being quirky tho
@@ctrlf7382 well that's a good question
I love the old Cinema Display in the back.
omg rude why u call it dumb its just a phone :c
love your content as always, happy new year james!!
Does anybody know the name of the music from 0:17?
Yea. Find playlist "study tunes" on his channel.
Wish upon the star's
@@Unimitsubisi hey thank youuuuu
bruh I feel like I could listen to you talk all day. its so relaxing😌
Happy new year y'all!
You too bro
happy newyear😳
yoooo!!!! , i was waiting for a new video from a long time , my man is back , happy new year brother
thanksbro😳
0:27 😳
Being less relient on your phone is a great thing for sure ❤️
I came to this channel and no going back
I love how archwiki tabs were open in his chrome lol..
I'm an older gen z and I'm genuinely thinking about getting a dumb phone, I already stopped using my smartphone at home, I only use my tablet to watch UA-cam and read ghosts stories on reddit before going to bed.. I'm way happier without Instagram and WPP, everytime now I see my friends I feel so happy and excited
I also started reading more books, I used to read a lot when I was a kid, and I'm way more present in real life instead of daydreaming all day
Everything in your room is so purposeful and solely productive
Pretty cool, another alternative would be getting the plan with the least data, this way it will incentivize you to not get on as social media/phone as much. And you'll save money too.
I got me a tcl classic after going phoneless all summer, you start to notice how cool the world actually is without a smartphone in your pocket begging for your attention 24/7.
such interesting stuff, love you man, happy new year !!
happy new year😳
@@jvscholz 😳
The more you appreciate something, all the more you are aware of its disadvantages.
Doing one thing and doing it good is what the old phones used to be.
hey, im glad that you're posting videos about digital minimalism!
could you share your goodreads link?
jvscholz