Anyone have a balance phone?

[SpinningTops]

I feel I need a dumb phone but would still like WhatsApp, Google maps, music, audible etc.

I’ve seen a balance phone advertised but can’t find many reviews.

Has anyone tried one and if so what do you think?

Anyone?

Maybe balance phones block mumsnet…

Haha, that’s true!!

That probably wouldn’t be a bad thing for me though …

If you have an Android phone then why not just install a minimalist launcher to achieve a similar effect. For example: Olauncher

I posted this another place here- I got a balance phone for my oldest kid this month- he’s 14. I was sick and tired of the amount of time he was spending in his iPhone gaming, sending Snapchats and watching YouTube video games. It got to a stage where I ended up buying a safe to limit his access to the iPhone. But as with all things that need constant attention and monitoring I found it difficult to keep on top of all the time. The balance phone has been a revelation. I have no more anxiety about online games looking to make him addicted, no more worries about inappropriate content being shown on Snapchat ( see stories section) and no more concerns about stupid inane YouTube videos. He doesn’t love it - but our stress levels have decreased dramatically, he’s more social!, and his health and wellbeing have improved considerably - better sleep/ organisation and focus. 2 weeks in.

Im just about to get this for myself - I think it still allows whatsapp, but blocks youtube mumsnet facebook. I can still access those on my laptop but it makes it much more intentional
I have to sit in a chair to go on my laptop (I just have a no laptop in bed habit / rule), and I don't really feel like sitting in a chair much on the weekend for long, unless I genuinely have a task to do. Obviously when I am there it will probably be tempting to add on a quick look at MN but I want to train myself out of that and find more interesting interests.

It's the flopping on the bed / sofa with the phone habit that is wasting my life from more productive pursuits.

I only really started using SM from about mid 2015 and it did nothing for my mental health, my sleep got worse etc.