Growing numbers of Australians are choosing to go back to basics with their mobile phone.
So called “dumb phones”, which are largely internet-free and can only call and message, are rising in popularity among parents wanting to protect their children, as well as adults who want more time offline.
Sales in Australia of such phones doubled in the past year making up 8.2 per cent of the market.
The biggest buyers are parents who see the dumb phones as a smart move for their children.
Research shows children who spend more than two hours a day on their phones are at higher risk of anxiety and stress.
They’re also more likely to have their melatonin production disrupted by blue light which can impact blood pressure, insulin resistance and sleep quality.
A dumb phone with no or very limited internet also reduces exposure to bullying, predators and privacy breaches.
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They’re even trending on TikTok among younger generations who say they’re sick of spending hours a day on their device.
“We do think there’s a big part of the community who are just sick of being so contactable,” Dark Horse Agency director and digital expert Nicole Jameson said.
Dr Yvonne Parry from Flinders University said she could see why parents and other adults were making the move.
“Lots of adults are actually choosing to go back to the dumb phone worldwide, because then they feel they’re in control of the phone, rather than the phone being in control of them and their life,” she said.
Safer phones like the BigPurplePhone, designed for the elderly, are also an option.
The G-mee phone is designed to be safer for children and allows parents to control apps and set time limits.
Retro phones can cost as little as $50, compared with thousands for top-line smarthphones
