We traded our smartphones for flip phones for 4 days—here's what we learned: 'It's annoying, but probably good for me'
Two friends documented their experience of using flip phones for four days instead of smartphones. They found the transition both challenging and enlightening, as it forced them to engage differently with their surroundings and each other. Despite some inconveniences, they noted that the experience was likely beneficial for their focus and social interactions.
- ▪The friends initially struggled with the lack of smartphone features, such as easy access to social media and navigation apps.
- ▪They discovered that using a flip phone encouraged more meaningful communication through phone calls and emails.
- ▪The experiment highlighted the distractions of smartphones, allowing them to focus more on reading and personal interactions.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Day 1: FridayRenée Onque, 8:22 a.m.: We can work from home on Fridays and Mondays, so I don't have to wake up early. Still, I set my alarm clock wrong. My friend texts me, "Good morning," and my flip phone rings so loudly that it wakes me up instead.Megan Sauer, 8:30 a.m.: Instead of my usual morning routine, thumbing through news alerts and app notifications, I see only one text message from a friend, asking if I've officially started my experiment. I briefly take my smartphone out of the drawer when I realize I'd forgotten to write down a source's contact information for an interview, then log on to my laptop for the workday.Sauer, 1:17 p.m.: Our jobs don't require much interaction with our phones beyond simple phone calls, so work feels pretty normal.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at CNBC — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from CNBC — Top
