“Stupid mobile phones” have become popular in Europe and the United States: very limited functions to reduce screen time

According to news on June 11, Luke Martin, a 16-year-old Canadian boy, chose a "dumb phone" with streamlined functions in order to limit screen time and avoid social media addiction. The phone provides only basic phone communication, messaging and map viewing capabilities, significantly reducing his time in front of a screen.

A Harvard study sheds light on the potential impact of social media on the brain, noting that areas of the brain that respond to social media use are very similar to those that respond to ingesting addictive substances, a finding that has sparked outrage. There is widespread concern about the addictive nature of social media. At the same time, multiple studies have also shown that excessive use of social media may have a negative impact on mental health.

With the popularity of smartphones among the younger generation, this issue has become increasingly worrying. A survey by Ofcom shows that about a quarter of children aged 5 to 7 already have their own smartphone.

This trend has prompted people to call for age restrictions on smartphone users. Faced with this challenge, consumers like Martin have begun to actively choose "dumb phones" with simple functions and limited applications.

Martin shared his experience. He said that in the past, his friends often spent four or five hours a day on their smartphones, and he himself was no exception. But now, he only uses his phone for about 20 minutes a day and only uses it when he really needs it. This change makes him very satisfied.

In recent years, the sales volume of “stupid mobile phones” has gradually increased in North America. Will Staltz, owner of "Bun Wireless", a store specializing in such mobile phones in Los Angeles, said that when many parents buy their children's first mobile phone, they are worried that their children will become addicted to the online world, so "Bun Mobile" became their first choice.

However, this change is not easy to achieve. Many schools require students to use specific mobile applications to complete learning tasks, which to a certain extent limits the popularity of "dumb phones". In addition, children often find it difficult to accept their own “dumb phones” when they see their peers using feature-rich, expensive smartphones.

In addition, it is difficult for "dumb phones" to become mainstream products in the mainstream market, because smartphone applications and social media advertising have brought huge profits to companies, reaching billions of dollars. This results in large companies lacking the motivation to push consumers to change their usage habits.

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