First off, I had no idea if this is a real name for a non-smart phone … a dumb phone. But I have seen a few discussions suggesting that more and more people are replacing their smartphones ..
Are you replacing yours?
Staying off social?
Tracking?
Other…
I wasn’t aware you could still buy a “dumb” phone. I had one originally, but it went the way of the dodo when 3G was no longer in use. Our Pure Talk provider offered a low end Nokia, which was the cheapest, dumbest phone they offered. It is technically a smart phone, I guess, but it’s not very capable of much other than sending/receiving texts, and making calls. That’s fine with me. My eyesight isn’t great and I refuse to try to read much on its tiny screen. I have neuropathy in my hands, and touch screens irritate me no end. Finally, I lived and died by the phone in the business world (prior to the cell phone craze) and I despise them. I only have one (at my wife’s behest) so I can communicate in an emergency. It remains off most of the time. I consider phones and social media extremely corrosive influences. I’m not a Luddite by any means; I like all things computers and the Internet. I just hate what smart phones to to degrade manners and interpersonal relationships.
I have an old Nokia, and only use it to get texts. I can’t even manage to send texts.
I love this.
I had a dumb phone during the mad lockdowns… loved taking it everywhere so when I was asked to scan a QR code etc… I showed my phone and they gave up. Worked a treat.
Yes, the addictive nature of this technology is possibly the most disturbing. And even when these could be a “danger” to us we can’t let go of them.
Google is making it mandatory to login with a smart phone as I find it! Currently I use the dumb phone mentioned.
They have a system of Two factor Authentication available, which requires you to login with an additional security stop of generating an OTP. Now, when you come to this page, it is compulsorily, asking to scan a QR code, even though you have opted for the OTP !!! This is compulsive coercion behaviour adopted by Google. Someone need to address it at that level.
In effect, you will not be able to login to your gmail account of many years when you run out of the other login options of - codes they provide !!! This needs to be addressed, as this looks like a part of the COVID era mandates !!
Please someone look into this and raise this issue from the States.
Pradeep K. Thomas
Great point made. Perhaps someone in the community knows the best course of action that needs to be taken.
My husband and I had smart phones for years, until we decided to start moving away from technology. Now we have a “dumb” phone for home use and use our smart phones as simple devices to listen to music, books, podcasts etc. Only work on WiFi. I have the only leftover smart phone and it’s generally off unless it’s needed for a specific purpose. Anecdotally, we believe that while society is supposedly more connected than ever due to technology, we are more lonely and isolated. How many of you get frustrated when you can’t have a real face to face conversation with someone because they are constantly checking their phone??? We are losing one of the most important things that makes us human very quickly. I had the privilege of teaching a class of nursing students recently (I am a palliative care NP) and hammered home the point (gently!) that they must not lose sight of the humanity of the person in front of them. OK, I will get off my soap box!
Its a wonderful soapbox @Bluebird and I love the way you have managed to reduce your use of smartphones, yet kept all the best bits. Think this is how I might achieve this, thanks for sharing and keep taking, we need voices like yours out there. 
You see? This is one reason I hate phones; they’re lousy for email. I use my cable provider’s email server and Outlook for PC, never my phone. I do have a Gmail address but it’s seldom used, and no great loss if they get too obnoxious!
Stay on your soapbox and shout it out! I’ve been beating the drum about the degradation of relationships, manners, & culture for years. It’s refreshing to see your remarks and read about positive steps you’ve taken. (In this new age of memes, my fantasy meme is a crushed smart phone with tire tracks on it!)
As requested
Get DOWN with your bad self! You made my day.
I have eschewed the “Smart-phone” since its arrival. I long for accessible pay phones.
My sequential flip-phones have obviously developed 3G and 4G tendencies and, of necessity through use of the cellular networks, perform as spybots. I have declined to adopt “texting” as a communication system, likely as a result of a poor experience in Typing 9 in Grade 10.
I occasionally remember to put the thing in my pocket when I leave the house. After 4 decades of being accessible by a pager or latterly the flip-phone I have very little attraction for an electronic ankle bracelet.
As a final benefit, the smart things barely work indoors where we live, in a marginal cellular zone and with metal roofing.
I miss pay phones, too. It was reassuring knowing they were there. We actually saw one at a KY comfort stop on Route 64 on our way across the state the other day. I kind of like being able to text, but peripheral neuropathy makes using any touch screen a problem for me. Other than an occasional call or text, mine stays off in the bottom of my backpack.
@rjt fyi, don’t think it went unnoticed. You do get +100 bonus points for ‘eschewed’. 