I just adore your work.. .adore you, your family and your writing. I laughed so hard this morning, on a day when I was taking a mental health day from work and needed something so spot on and ridiculous all at the same time.. Hoping these end up in a collection of short essays at some point.. You are really good at what you do. Thank you!
I love and relate to this so much--the whole arc of it really. Please share whether you're still on the dumb phone kick or whether you've succumb to the siren call of your smartphone once again.
When my 11-year-old was trying to make a deal with us to get a phone, I did some research on Old flip phones looking for one that would allow texting and calls but little else. The big sticking point was that I wanted it to be easy for her to listen to music, and that just meant it would have to be some kind of smartphone. We ended up getting a somewhat old iPhone x and putting various limitations on it. It's been far from perfect, probably too much screen time and lost focus, but here we are.
Your timing is amazing. My wife forwarded me your latest piece on the Light Phone. I was about to purchase it after beginning Digital Minimalism (which I'm considering making an all-church read during Lent, but I digress). Trying to find a phone that limits access to the web, while still allowing me to easily listen to music/podcasts and take/share pictures has been a challenge. Thanks for causing me to pause on my purchase! I may end up buying a phone designed for teenagers from GabWireless. I considered a flip phone, but it would have actually made my families monthly cell plan charges, more not less. Is the Light Phone really that bad? I think I know the answer, but I had to ask. Thank you also for your commentary on Cal's writing and viewpoint. I do have some concerns that he comes at it from a very male-centered worldview.
Sarah, thank you so much for this, which I am reading on my phone, which I promised myself I wouldn’t do in the morning, because that’s when my mind is clear in my phone messes up my mind. In all seriousness, thank you for pointing out the before/after pandemic phone relationship. That’s such an obvious reason why I am having difficulty with my phone now in a way I’ve never had before. And I’ve been on the Internet and social media forever.
Nov 16, 2022·edited Nov 16, 2022Liked by Sarah Wheeler
Great piece! Thanks for sharing this almost Taboo!
You already pointed out enough good reasons to dump a smart phone at least for a dumb one... But allow me to add another really good reason to sever yourself completely from these tracking devices:
This was great! I have similarly mixed feelings about Cal Newport, and I'm weirdly kind of relieved to know that a Light Phone isn't the answer to my phone problems. My friend Emily Mohn-Slate wrote this great piece for Romper about motherhood and her relationship to her phone: https://www.romper.com/life/why-limit-screen-time-moms-phones-digital-detox
I just adore your work.. .adore you, your family and your writing. I laughed so hard this morning, on a day when I was taking a mental health day from work and needed something so spot on and ridiculous all at the same time.. Hoping these end up in a collection of short essays at some point.. You are really good at what you do. Thank you!
I love and relate to this so much--the whole arc of it really. Please share whether you're still on the dumb phone kick or whether you've succumb to the siren call of your smartphone once again.
Love CRJ and Nif! Loved this- hilarious and tragic saga.
When my 11-year-old was trying to make a deal with us to get a phone, I did some research on Old flip phones looking for one that would allow texting and calls but little else. The big sticking point was that I wanted it to be easy for her to listen to music, and that just meant it would have to be some kind of smartphone. We ended up getting a somewhat old iPhone x and putting various limitations on it. It's been far from perfect, probably too much screen time and lost focus, but here we are.
Your timing is amazing. My wife forwarded me your latest piece on the Light Phone. I was about to purchase it after beginning Digital Minimalism (which I'm considering making an all-church read during Lent, but I digress). Trying to find a phone that limits access to the web, while still allowing me to easily listen to music/podcasts and take/share pictures has been a challenge. Thanks for causing me to pause on my purchase! I may end up buying a phone designed for teenagers from GabWireless. I considered a flip phone, but it would have actually made my families monthly cell plan charges, more not less. Is the Light Phone really that bad? I think I know the answer, but I had to ask. Thank you also for your commentary on Cal's writing and viewpoint. I do have some concerns that he comes at it from a very male-centered worldview.
Sarah, thank you so much for this, which I am reading on my phone, which I promised myself I wouldn’t do in the morning, because that’s when my mind is clear in my phone messes up my mind. In all seriousness, thank you for pointing out the before/after pandemic phone relationship. That’s such an obvious reason why I am having difficulty with my phone now in a way I’ve never had before. And I’ve been on the Internet and social media forever.
Great piece! Thanks for sharing this almost Taboo!
You already pointed out enough good reasons to dump a smart phone at least for a dumb one... But allow me to add another really good reason to sever yourself completely from these tracking devices:
https://www.predictwise.com/whitepaper
Scroll down to PW Case Study #3 – Real-time Data, PredictWise Covid-19 Score.
What do you think?
This was great! I have similarly mixed feelings about Cal Newport, and I'm weirdly kind of relieved to know that a Light Phone isn't the answer to my phone problems. My friend Emily Mohn-Slate wrote this great piece for Romper about motherhood and her relationship to her phone: https://www.romper.com/life/why-limit-screen-time-moms-phones-digital-detox