NYT
My Dumbphone Made My Life Better. It Made Everyone Else’s Worse.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
A person switched to a basic mobile phone without smartphone capabilities and reported personal benefits from reduced screen time. The change created communication difficulties for contacts who relied on messaging apps, social media, and other digital services to reach them. Studies on digital minimalism show mixed results on personal wellbeing, while research on social friction from reduced connectivity remains limited.
Original reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/opinion/dumbphone-smartphone-friendship.html
