Let's face it: our relationship with mobile devices is terrible. Doomscrolling does more harm than we imagine, and there's no real interest in changing that. Giving up the smartphone isn't a simple goal, and for some users it's simply impossible (work issues, health, and so on). There is, however, another path: transforming the smartphone—an iPhone, to be precise—into a 'basic' phone. Harrison Broadbent from the Dumbphones blog explains his process.
How many hours a day do you spend staring at your smartphone? How many notifications do you receive each day? The answer to both questions is most likely 'many,' and honestly, I doubt anyone would be surprised. After all, devices, apps, and online services have been designed with a single goal: capture your attention. Constantly, without interruption, always.
Harrison Broadbent from the Dumbphones blog has classified modern smartphones in a very precise way: dopamine-driven slot machines. But his proposal to combat that condition is not to give up the device, but to moderate its content, to turn it into something warmer and more generic. His article focuses on the iPhone, but I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to achieve a similar result on Android.
A 'Basic' iPhone to Eliminate Distractions
The first recommendation is to replace the entire home screen and launcher with a minimalist version. Although there are apps in the Apple ecosystem such as Blank Spaces and On Point, Harrison suggests installing Dumbify, which leaves aside the freemium model and asks for a one-time payment of five dollars (Buying software? Today? It's a miracle!). The layout reminds us of Windows Phone devices, but goes a step further by removing color and icons.
The second step is to use neutral wallpapers that hide the dock. Dumbify includes two examples, but Harrison took the trouble to share generic wallpapers so any user can adjust them to their device. This requires deactivating the automatic dark mode and the search option on the home screen.
The last two recommendations are the most controversial: use the smartphone in grayscale, and disable notifications. Grayscale is activated in the Accessibility section. Many apps depend on color for their display, and it's quite likely the user will resist right here. In contrast, disabling notifications is something I personally consider essential. The constant bombardment and FOMO paranoia can drive anyone crazy.
Finally, the most obvious one: uninstall apps. In essence, Harrison's proposal is to make the iPhone more uncomfortable and boring. Maybe it will work...?
Access the original article: Click here
