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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Has anyone ever downgraded their phone?

30 replies

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 10:11

I’m thinking about downgrading my mobile back to a non-smart version because I seem to be seriously addicted to the bloody thing. I’ve been checking out the amount of time I spend on it and it’s quite amazing. Whenever I can’t find it I go into a panic, I don’t feel complete unless I’m clutching it. It’s the first thing I reach for in the morning and the last thing I hear (plugged into my air pods) at night. I haven’t read a book for years. I have books on the kindle on my phone but can’t concentrate on them because I’m always being distracted by something else.

I think I’ll survive (!) old school without it - using the laptop as required - and I’m really curious to remind myself of what life was like before I ever had one. Downsides are not having immediate access to maps/ traffic updates, train times and Uber on the rare occasions that I need it. Upsides are (I’m hoping) better concentration, less anxiety and remembering what it’s like not to have to be “connected” all the time.

Anyone else here done it? Thinking about doing it? How did it go?

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jaseyraex · 28/04/2019 10:15

My DH did this. He got the new version of the nokia 3310. Snakes not the same though so he was a bit miffed Grin It still has Facebook and Twitter but they don't work nearly as well as they do on a smart phone so he finds that he rarely checks them. He says he never wants a smart phone again, he loves it.

Littlechocola · 28/04/2019 10:20

I have a day a week where my phone is just my phone. Unless it rings it stays in my bag. No fiddling.
I need to increase this!

AhoyDelBoy · 28/04/2019 10:22

I could’ve written this OP myself so will be interested in the responses. I’m so so sick of always being on my phone but can’t seem to break the habit.

cliquewhyohwhy · 28/04/2019 10:22

That sounds a great idea! I put my phone on airplane mode a couple of nights a week to give myself a break from it. I've actually started reading again. I'm not on social media anymore either.

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 10:26

Glad to know there are others who feel the same. I’m going to call O2 today to see how I do this. I feel like an absolutely slave to this device. It’s so weird the way my hand always seems to be reaching for it even when my brain doesn’t quite know what it wants to look up, if that makes sense?

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Tilikum · 28/04/2019 10:28

I really want to do this too. My phone is constantly in my hand and I want to break away from using it so much.

From research, it looks like the new Nokia 3310 doesn't have Whatsapp though and that's the only smartphone thing that I truly can't be without.

Does anybody know another low tech phone that supports WhatsApp?

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 10:32

Yes that’s a good question Tilikum - I just realised the same thing.

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FunkyKingston · 28/04/2019 10:35

I like the idea of it, but so much if my life, work emails, music, banking, train tickets, navigation etc. is done throufh ny phone that I'd spend far longer on doing these tasks that it wouldn't be worth my while. I do occasionally switch my phone off for the evening when want a break from all the guff it generates via FB and Twitter.

I have a £130 budget smart phone that i bought outright and pay £10 a month on a sim only deal. i keep phones for roughly three years, so it doesn't work out that expensive.

FunkyKingston · 28/04/2019 10:41

Would these apos be of use?

www.inc.com/jeremy-goldman/6-apps-to-stop-your-smartphone-addiction.html

PenelopeFlintstone · 28/04/2019 10:43

I went from a smartphone to no phone, when my phone died. I was exactly like you and my kids drove me nuts at work on it. (i didn't want to check it but always had to in case it was an emergency - it never was.)

I am, however, now on my laptop for hours every day which is a bit similar. I downloaded 'ColdTurkey' and can block all my distractions when I want to. I do it a lot even just for an hour or two sometimes, to go and get other stuff done.

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 11:31

@PenelopeFlintstone But is it better without a phone, even if you’re on your laptop a lot more?

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Firstworddinosaur · 28/04/2019 11:35

I want one of those old Nokia's because I hate how addicted my phone is. BUT I find WhatsApp really useful and I don't think you can get it on the retro phones?

PenelopeFlintstone · 28/04/2019 12:09

I think so but there are times when I really could use a phone - trying to find one of my kids in a shopping area, or they're not where they were supposed to meet me etc. I'm overseas and most people here use Messenger and text, not Whatsapp, so I chat to them on my laptop. If they need me they can ring me on the home landline or the work one (as can the kids if there's an emergency - they rarely do though. Funny that.)

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 12:31

I’ve just read that the Nokia 8810 supports WhatsApp.

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amandacarnet · 28/04/2019 12:33

I did for the same reasons you want to op. I got a very basic smartphone on a contract with a tiny amount of data. That way I can use it when I really really need it for maps for example.

amandacarnet · 28/04/2019 12:34

And my basic smartphone drones not have enough memory for me to install what's up

Tilikum · 28/04/2019 12:52

Oh, good investigating hilbo There's a few articles saying the Nokia 8810 will have WhatsApp support but I can't find anything that definitively says 'yes, it currently has Whatsapp'.

Tilikum · 28/04/2019 12:58

Ok , I've just signed up to the Nokia website and searched their forums for an answer (so over invested). Apparently some parts of the world have received the update that enables the 8810 to use WhatsApp, but most of the world hasn't. The thread was last updated 2 days ago.

MadameGazelleIsMyHomegirl · 28/04/2019 13:19

Yes, a couple of years ago I switched from smart phone to a basic calls and texts Nokia. It was incredibly liberating. I had an iPad at home so did still use fb etc but at work and out and about it was just calls and texts.
Now I’m totally addicted to my iPhone. I spend hours per day on it... I’m thinking about doing the Nokia switch again

OnlineAlienator · 28/04/2019 13:25

I did, i bought an updated nokia 3310, but it kept losing texts so i had to return it. I bought a new smartphone mostly for traffic , maps etc, but i came off facebook and spent time binning apps, huding them and turning off notifications, google assistant etc. I REALLY loathe all the constant binging, buzzing, notifications and interruptions of a phone!

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 15:32

@amandacarnet which basic smartphone did you go for? Maybe that’s the solution because I think I really do need WhatsApp.

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hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 15:33

@Tilikum I wonder which part of the world we are in (WhatsApp enabled or not)? Please keep me posted if you find out anything else. I really have to do something soon!

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Tilikum · 28/04/2019 17:15

@hilbobaggins According to my new best friends on the Nokia site, The Philippines has WhatsApp support now, but Germany doesn't. So maybe it's coming to Europe later? I will keep my eyes peeled for it because I am actually sick of staring into my phone. Your comment about It’s so weird the way my hand always seems to be reaching for it even when my brain doesn’t quite know what it wants to look up is the same for me too. It's a terrible, lazy habit.

hilbobaggins · 28/04/2019 19:02

Tilikum I’ll keep my eye on the 8810 too. In the meantime I’m going to delete as much as possible off my iPhone and see how that goes for a week!

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LEDadjacent · 28/04/2019 19:09

I usually have MN and Facebook blocked on my phone to minimise how much I use it whilst still maintaining the useful smart features.

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