Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dumb phones are on the rise in the U.S. as Gen Z looks to limit screen time
CNBC ^ | MAR 29 2023 | Liam Mays

Posted on 03/30/2023 4:41:26 AM PDT by george76

Dumb phones may be falling out of fashion on a global scale, but it’s a different story in the U.S.

Companies like HMD Global, the maker of Nokia phones, continue to sell millions of mobile devices similar to those used in the early 2000s. This includes what’s known as “feature phones” — traditional flip or slide phones that have additional features like GPS or a hotspot.

“I think you can see it with certain Gen Z populations — they’re tired of the screens,” said Jose Briones,

...

In the U.S., feature flip phone sales were up in 2022 for HMD Global, with tens of thousands sold each month. At the same time, HMD’s global feature phone sales were down,


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dumb; dumbphones; featurephones; flipphone; phones
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

1 posted on 03/30/2023 4:41:26 AM PDT by george76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: george76

My 80 year old sister could not deal with a screen phone. Too complex and she has bad eye/finger coordination. She would look at the correct icon but couldn’t put her finger on it. Once every two or three weeks I’d have to unbrick her phone.


2 posted on 03/30/2023 4:48:22 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (Wait! I said that out loud? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

I guess I’m a trend-setter, then. Never had a “smart” phone. Never wanted one. I can keep track of my movements myself,, thank you very much.


3 posted on 03/30/2023 5:04:12 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

I knew I was just ahead of my time in spite of what my kids kept telling me.


4 posted on 03/30/2023 5:07:09 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chad C. Mulligan

I don’t know if this still holds true but the shipyards used to have a block on smartphones allowed within certain areas of the shipyard and so workers used dumb phones (without cams).


5 posted on 03/30/2023 5:15:32 AM PDT by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: george76

Cue the “Obama Phone Lady”.


6 posted on 03/30/2023 5:16:31 AM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (The world continues to be stuck in a "all leftist, all of the time" funk. BUNK THE FUNK!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

perhaps there is hope for this younger generation after all


7 posted on 03/30/2023 5:16:41 AM PDT by imabadboy99
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: metmom

“I knew I was just ahead of my time in spite of what my kids kept telling me.”

LOL...I was the same with my kids. Cell phones are needed now, as there are no more pay phones. So my kids got just that - cell phones - they could call who they wanted, when they wanted, could text too, but that’s a pain on a ten-key pad. That was it.

What I get a kick out of are the parents, many on our side, who get OUTRAGED at what the kids are being shown in school, and what’s in the kid’s library...when we all know they buy their kids I-Phones when no one is looking, as it keeps the kids from nagging them.


8 posted on 03/30/2023 5:22:37 AM PDT by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: george76

We started with a bag phone just for calling from the car. Went flip phone and have stayed with them ever since.


9 posted on 03/30/2023 5:29:06 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
It would be wonderful if smart phones fell out of popularity. So many people, especially the under-30 crowd, cling to them as if their lives depended on them.

And we all know what kind of "news" is being fed to them through their mobile devices.
10 posted on 03/30/2023 5:33:18 AM PDT by Dan in Wichita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan in Wichita

Smart phones, stupid people.


11 posted on 03/30/2023 5:34:07 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: george76

[this is a glad I’m not alone bookmark :-]


12 posted on 03/30/2023 5:35:34 AM PDT by tomkat (SOTU = FUBAR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NewHampshireDuo

Ditto re the bag phone, back in the Pleistocene . . .


13 posted on 03/30/2023 5:36:55 AM PDT by tomkat (SOTU = FUBAR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: george76

My dad had a bag phone in his car and then camper, first time I saw it we made phone calls to my brothers and sisters so we could yell “ We’re calling from the car!” It was pretty funny.


14 posted on 03/30/2023 5:54:56 AM PDT by The Louiswu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator
Smart phones, stupid people

Succinctly stated, and exactly true.
15 posted on 03/30/2023 6:12:19 AM PDT by Dan in Wichita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: george76

Good God, what a bunch of grumpy old farts ya’ll are! :D


16 posted on 03/30/2023 6:26:39 AM PDT by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

It’s a natural response to overstimulation. Some people will naturally have the instinct to cut off the source so they can relax.


17 posted on 03/30/2023 6:32:02 AM PDT by Shadow44
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: larrytown

LOL. I was a grumpy old fart until a relative gave me a used iPhone as a gift. The Landline company was gouging me, so it was an easy switch...


18 posted on 03/30/2023 6:32:35 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: george76

Never gave up mine. F flatscreens.


19 posted on 03/30/2023 6:35:36 AM PDT by wetgundog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

I made a call to my wife, from my tractor in the woods behind the house.


20 posted on 03/30/2023 6:57:20 AM PDT by brooklin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson