I have never owned a smart phone. AMA

[EuclidianGeometryFan]

I have never owned a smart phone. I don't think it is worth the money.
I use a laptop to access the internet.

Yeah, I wonder why it is that tech workers are so often wary of some aspects of technology? Like the Silicon Valley workers who won't allow their DC to have screens....

It's almost as if they understand the full implications of a society addicted to and reliant on technology, isn't it? 🤔

(See also the guy I recently dated who was quite senior in a major software firm and refused- under any circumstances- to use AI).

But you don't need a smartphone to text someone.

our local council car parks are now anpr cameras and although they offer a parking meter which has a card reader, it never bloody works so realistically it’s app pay only (I assume it’s cheaper for them as they don’t need to employ a parking officer), if your council does the same will you get a smart phone?

I avoid AI wherever I can, and my children are not allowed social media and have strict restrictions on their phones.

However, the OP is using social media platforms like Facebook and Mumsnet. She’s using Google maps and other sites, just refusing to do it via smartphone and without printing off masses of forms and passes and maps.

Some of the best apps are only available via smartphone. OP admits that her main concern is the (minuscule) cost and the (unlikely) potential to lose the phone. Not AI or because she’s got some insider tech knowledge 🤣

neither have i...how refreshing to meet another non-smart phone user

You were able to do that because they haven't changed the rules yet. From 12th November Ryanair boarding passes are going fully digital and they won't be accepting paper ones. Anyone who wants/needs to travel with them will need a smartphone to receive and store their passes.

But why are we being railroaded into using smartphone apps to access the goods and services we need, rather than using websites? Is this all to benefit us, the consumer? 🤔

There are some weirdly defensive replies on this thread!

There are some weirdly defensive replies on this thread!

Of course it benefits us! Can you imagine, just a few years ago being able to manage your life on the go and through apps? I am 53, and can remember cheques, paper statements and bills, dirty cash and coins, having to add wet signatures and attend banks in person to make transactions.

I am very grateful as a consumer that apps and smart phones have made life so easy.

Do you genuinely believe that the intention of forcing us all into app based transactions is to benefit the consumer? Or the provider?

I’m just back from the gym, where my phone has been showing me today’s workout plan, timing my planks, & playing an audio book through my Bluetooth headphones.

Without it I’d have had to take a notebook & pencil, a stopwatch & an iPod.

I mean, personally I prefer a run through the woods, where I am focused on the sounds of birds and the smells of autumn, and usually stop at least once or twice to have a chat with someone I recognise. I deliberately leave my smartphone at home, to have a bit of an attention detox.

Or I'll go swimming, where of course it's impossible to take your phone, to feel my brain gradually clearing of overstimulation with every length.

Both of these activities tend to lead me into deeper thought patterns as my brain resets itself once the constant compulsion to scroll dies down. I can unpick problems, allow creative thoughts to come to the surface, and make plans in a way that's difficult when I'm constantly looking at my phone.

That sounds lovely, I assume you live near woods?

When I have time I love long walks through London’s green spaces & I know what you mean about detoxing, but I usually need to set at least half a day aside for that & only do it if I know the weather’s likely to be good.

The gym is round the corner & it’s easy to get an early workout in on work mornings. I often bump into people I know too.

These staff members will be using their phones to look things up re the meeting as well as taking notes and communicating with each other during the meeting.

All of which is considered rude.
If it is necessary for the benefit of the meeting to look something up, you should say out loud "I'll just look that up". If you are only doing it for your own benefit, it would be more polite to look it up later.
Notes can be done on paper, or on the printed agenda if there is one. Most professionals have a paper pad or notebook that they keep for all their meetings and for further reference - much quicker to scribble down notes with a pen that type onto an app.

Secret or private communication between people on their phones during a meeting is the absolute height of rudeness. Whatever you say should be said aloud for everyone to hear. If you have to let someone know a particular thing in private, do it after the meeting.

I too remember those things. The cheques and paper bank statement are now of the past. Wet signatures are mostly gone (I think some legal things still need them?), and I have not attended my bank in person for literally decades.

Things like sending a QR code to a phone for a theatre ticket is mostly done to save the theatre money and time. The fact that it also is convenient for you is an additional bonus, but they didn't do it for the consumer / audience.

I use my smartphone in work meetings when the topic is no longer relevant to me or my work and I don’t find it rude when others do it too, far better to be replying to someone or even doing some home admin on the phone silently and be productive in some way then listening to something that doesn’t have any relevance to the person or their work.

Mate. Obviously it is to make money for the big tech guys, through creating the most convenient product for years.

Or do you have another conspiracy theory?

I get a cheque every month! And it’s unavoidable, and they are definitely signed with a pen. Archaic but it’s the only way this organisation pay. As of 31st Dec the only way I can pay it in is in branch (nearest one 55 miles away) or via the mobile app. Currently I drop it into the post office on my way to a woodland walk (can be done with or without smartphone 🤪) but that service is ending

I'm not keen on giving random third parties the right to mine my data for free. Every time you mindlessly click on "Allow access to location", or any other of the routine permissions you just OK when setting up an app, do you ever give thought to how that information is used?

I'm also not keen on getting endless push notifications and spam emails once I've been coerced into downloading an app.

I'm also not keen on cluttering my phone up with endless apps. Especially given that pretty much anyone can develop or market an app, so security can often be weaker than when accessing information via a browser.

How do you organise meet ups with friends? Or keep up with them generally? Very few people phone each other for a chat these days, I find.

Obviously your setup suits you but personally i would miss out on a lot if I didn’t have a smartphone. It’s great for keeping up with adult DC. We enjoy sending each other messages and pictures to keep each other informed, especially if they live a long way away/abroad. I find your description of pictures of your DD sending pics of your grandchildren being “random” quite unusual.

Text messages on a dumbphone.
Facebook Messenger on the laptop.
Emails.

Neither do I 🤔 why do you think we’re “mindlessly” clicking and allowing notifications and emails? Nobody should be spammed these days.

I don't install apps on my smartphone if I can avoid it, as the privacy is so poor. Like Facebook etc. They just harvest your contact list, spy your location etc. Pretty much impossible to de-google on Android. Quite what they do with it, who knows. So I stick with browser on smartphone.

Me neither OP, and never will. I think they're detrimental to people's mental health, concentration, attention span etc etc etc. Manage fine without one.