I use my brain more now: Man’s flip phone experiment goes viral, quits using smartphone

X user Nathan Covey shared his experience on the micro-blogging platform, stating: “Officially 1 month since I switched to a flip phone.”

At a time when many people check notifications even before getting out of bed, Covey highlighted his personal shift away from smartphone dependence.

Commenting on what he described as widespread smartphone addiction, he wrote: “Everyone is more severely addicted to their smartphones than I thought. Once you have a dumbphone, you'll frequently find yourself as the only person in the room not on their phone. It's not just teenagers, it's parents and adults of all ages. It's like everyone is stuck in a trance. 75+ year olds might be the only exception.”

He added that most concerns he initially had about switching to a “dumbphone” turned out to be either exaggerated or manageable.

“All the objections I previously had for getting a dumbphone have turned out to be overblown and/or solvable. My iPhone addiction had fed my brain excuses to not do this earlier. If you really want to make the switch, you can,” he said.

Covey also admitted feeling self-conscious at times about using a flip phone in public, but said he has since embraced it.

“I’ve felt embarrassed to pull out my flip phone in public at times, for fear of being different or drawing too much attention to myself. But I have learned to just own up to it. Most people end up saying something like ‘Oh, I probably should do that too’,” he wrote.

Explaining the benefits he perceives, he said the switch has helped him think more deeply and reduce digital dependence.

“I am using my brain more. Even though my flip phone has Waze, I find myself memorizing maps and roads. I’m more bored and get lost in my thoughts. I’m using paper and pen more. Increased desire for tangible things over digital things,” he said.

Covey added that he has no plans to return to a smartphone.

Responding to questions about how he manages work or information without a smartphone, he said he relies on his laptop at home or postpones searches.

“If at home, I use my MacBook. If out in public, I will ask a human, or just save it for later. One month in, I’ve never needed to desperately search for something out in public. It usually can wait. The only thing I’ve had to search for are directions, and my flip phone has Waze,” he explained.