Sales of ‘dumb phones’ increase as people hope to switch from smartphones

Majority of people these days have ditched their old mobile phones and switched to new smartphones. However, new reports show that the old ‘dumb’ phones might be making a comeback with people ditching their new smartphones.

Though recent research shows that on average people check their smartphones every 12 minutes, but seems like people are going back to the old fashioned mobile phones, as the sales for the so-called ‘dumb phones’ have seen an increase for the first time in years.

The dumb phones refer to those old school phones that can simply make and receive calls, with no access to internet or other apps, and are also known as feature phones in the industry. Counterpoint Research indicates that where global sales of smartphones rose by only 2%, sales of feature phones rose by 5%, as reported by The Sun.

New ‘dumb phone’ all set to curb our smartphone addiction

Feature phones are seen as a way to switch off from constant online connectivity that most of the people have grown used to now. Thus, people are now opting for dumb phones to get away from 24/7 social media access.

A user switching to dumb phone, Mary Erskine expressed, “I just hated the fact that I was always on it. My friend said the other day, ‘you check it 150 times a day’.” However, Erskine clarified that she won’t completely shut out connectivity from her life as she still has her iPad.

“But it’s more about choice. If I want to go out with just the dumb phone then you can make a choice and have a day without all the noise of all the notifications and apps,” Erskine told Sky News.

However, people can’t simply just switch off with smartphones. A report by UK’s regulatory authority, The Office of Communications (Ofcom) stated that 78% of British people acknowledged that they cannot live without their smartphones and spend an average of over two hours online daily, with even more for people between 18- and 24-year-old.

Psychologist Daria Kuss believes some smartphone users develop a genuine addiction to their phones. “They may be aware that they’re using it too much however they can’t stop themselves. They may be afraid to miss out on anything that may be happening on their social media channels being one of the reasons why they use it compulsively and this may lead to symptoms that have been association with addiction like withdrawal, preoccupation and loss of control.”