Escaping Your Phone: How Downgrading Can Change Your Life

Oneindia

British Writer and artist August Lamm once had over 170,000 followers online, but now she's ditched her smartphone for a "dumb" phone — and she says it's changed her life. With Brits spending over four hours a day on their phones, could downgrading be the key to breaking free from social media addiction? Watch to find out why Lamm says she’ll never return to a smartphone.      #DigitalDetox #DumbPhone #SocialMediaAddiction #MindfulLiving #TechMinimalism #PhoneAddiction #ScreenTime #MentalHealth #ProductivityHacks #FocusMode #UnpluggedLife #SimplifyYourLife #WellnessJourney #HealthyHabits #DigitalWellbeing  Also Read  Sundar Pichai’s Holi Post Takes Social Media by Storm with Stunning Photos :: https://www.oneindia.com/india/sundar-pichai-s-holi-post-takes-social-media-by-storm-with-stunning-photos-4095005.html?ref=DMDesc  Champions Trophy 2025: Sunil Shetty Lauds KL Rahul With A Special Post :: https://www.oneindia.com/sports/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-sunil-shetty-lauds-kl-rahul-with-a-special-post-4091255.html?ref=DMDesc  YouTube Video by Sameer MD on Dharmasthala Soujanya Case Deleted? Fans Seek Answers :: https://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/youtube-video-by-sameer-md-on-dharmasthala-soujanya-case-deleted-fans-seek-answers-4085981.html?ref=DMDesc    ~HT.178~ED.103~

Transcript

00:00I've probably lost 20,000 followers.

00:04So I wish I could say it hasn't made a difference, but it definitely has.

00:16In a world where smartphones have become an extensive of our hands, concerns over screen

00:21addictions are rising.

00:23From mindless scrolling to lost productivity, studies show we have been spending more time

00:28looking at our screens than looking at each other.

00:32But now, some are taking a bold step, ditching their smartphones entirely.

00:37One of them is writer and artist, August Lam, who had once over 70,000 followers on social

00:44media.

00:45She is now embracing the classic keypad phone and urging others to do the same.

00:50Now that's just judging it by one metric.

00:54My career has actually taken off, but outside of social media.

00:58So I, I'm not showing up in people's timelines.

01:00Let's see what people think about it.

01:03Could they give up their smartphones?

01:05A long time ago, when the keypad phones came out, people didn't have much time left.

01:10Its durability, sustainability, even if the button falls off, it's fine, it'll fall

01:15off a little, it'll crack, it's a hostile virus, and there's a lot of fear of hacking.

01:22There's no such fear in that.

01:24We are in tech business, so we can check multiple things on our smartphone.

01:27That's why I think smartphones are better.

01:58Other than that, there is no requirement for a smartphone.

02:01I don't think switching to keypad phones would be a good option for digital detox.

02:07Our PMO also drives us to work in the digital world.

02:11So that's why we are addicted to smartphones.

02:17Studies show that prolonged exposure to screens can impact brain development.

02:22Lam is part of a growing movement embracing dumb phones.

02:26Basic devices with limited or no internet access.

02:30The idea to reclaim time, focus, and mental well-being.

02:34Even telecom companies are beginning to respond with some promoting minimalistic phones

02:39that limit distractions and encourage digital detox.

02:43So the question remains, in a world designed to keep us online, can we take back control of our time?

02:50What's your take?

02:51Could you swap your phone or smartphone for something simpler phone or keypad one?

02:56Let us know.

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