For some time now, Spanish users have been experiencing an increase in the time spent using their mobile phones thanks to the improvement of devices and the rise of social networks, messaging applications and Internet content. Hyperconnection is something something that more and more young users are realizing and trying to avoid in their daily lives.
Not only can this lead to some vision-related problems, but it also makes many people are increasingly looking to disconnect from their cell phonesAccording to a study carried out by the Spanish company SPC, more than half of the Spanish population has considered going digitally offline.
According to the data, one in ten young people have decided to abandon social networks for good. Other users are choosing Limit app usage time with digital health options of Android and iOS. The possibility of purchasing a non-smartphone is also present, even among the youngest, who seek to disconnect from the pressure exerted by excessive use of the mobile phone. These types of devices, called ‘mute phones“They have advantages such as longer battery life and less stimuli, and are a great option for many people.”
Search for disconnection
There are many jobs and academic projects that require spending hours with the computer for a good part of the day, and during leisure time, social networks, video games or simply watching movies and series also lead some users to spend a lot of time in front of the computer screen.
According to a study conducted by the CPS among 1,000 young people aged 18 to 35, mobile phone use is approximately five hours per day. This causes 75.5% of Spaniards plan to reduce this figure devote more time to other activities, and 14.3% managed to do so sustainably.
Addiction to the mobile phone can lead to problems such as constant vigilance for notifications or difficulty falling asleep due to its use just before falling asleep. To do this, users consider different options, but uninstalling social networks and limiting the time of use of applications are the most preferred. On Android, this is as simple as accessing the Digital Wellbeing section, in Settings. There, you can set a limit on the daily use time of each application. When this threshold is exceeded, a notification will be sent and access to said application will be prevented.
Other solution chosen by 12.7% of young people is to switch to a classic phonebecause without the Internet, there are fewer distractions caused by one of these cell phones. After all, it significantly changes the way we communicate with others.
What are the ‘mute phones‘
The calls’mute phones“These are non-smart mobile phones, which have the basic functions of calling and sending SMS, but do not have access to the Internet. They can be ideal for not spending all day waiting for notifications, networks and messaging applications, and they have some advantages over conventional cell phones, such as its long battery life, capable of lasting more than a full week, or its smallest size.
In addition, they are much cheaper than the smartphones we are used to, because they have fewer functions and cheaper hardware. This is devices whose operating system requires modest hardware to operate, and its main functions are not very demanding either.
The positive point of this is that eliminates many distractions caused, precisely, by the large number of options that smartphones offer. On classic phones, you cannot browse social networks, send messages on WhatsApp or use streaming applications such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. This is a mobile phone whose communication mechanisms are essentially SMS and phone calls.
It doesn’t change the way we use mobile phones, but it does. changes the way we communicate with our loved ones. Making a call is a more personal method that leaves a different feeling compared to messaging, so price and battery are not the only advantages of these non-smart phones.
Excellent alternatives
These types of devices are still sold today, and there are quite a few interesting options on the market which may be worth it, but perhaps not permanently, but for certain occasions, such as during the holidays. Jorge Flores, an expert in healthy use of technology, considers these devices “as the perfect tool to learn to select the moments of disconnection so that they are truly disconnected and take better control of time.”
The SPC Wild is one of the newest options on the market. It is a clamshell device, with an external screen where you can see the time and notifications, which will prevent, in many cases, from opening it. It has a battery life of 10 days with one hour of daily talk time, and integrates 4G to improve call quality. Its price will be around 70 dollarsand will be available in Europe throughout this summer.
On the other hand, if you prefer a coverless design, one of the best options is the Nokia 8210, which, at a price of 77.50 dollars, also offers 4G connectivity, autonomy of about 6 days and a classic format that will avoid distractions. It has an FM radio and a very basic camera with which you can take photos and videos.
The TCL Onetouch 4021 is another alternative, in this case with a more affordable price of only 20.99 dollars, and which has the possibility of inserting two SIM cards, in addition to also being compatible with SD cards up to 32 GB. It incorporates a flashlight, and also has a basic camera that will allow you to capture moments in its internal memory.