Screen addiction. Information overload. Brain rot. Terms you’re probably familiar with if you’ve ever spent any time online. And if you’re anything like me, those terms are probably pretty accurate. It’s not unusual for me to spend more than ten hours a day on my phone. Assuming I’m awake for about 16 hours a day, that’s over 60% of my day. Yuck. That kind of statistic for any kind of activity is concerning.

Your mom isn’t the only one worried about “that damn phone.” Science tells us that this kind of screen time could be a cause for concern. “Internet addiction” (IA) is the commonly used term for excessive screen time. However, there is no real consensus on how to diagnose, define, or measure this addiction, and the World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider IA a disorder. It’s also not clear whether “addiction” is an appropriate description for excessive phone time, since the severity levels of use are lower than traditional, substance-based addictions. You know very well what I’m talking about.

What is clear, however, are the negative consequences associated with excessive screen time. Teens suffering from IA, according to one study, had a higher risk of comorbidities (multiple disorders), including depression, anxiety, and stress. Another study found that adult males who self-identify as IA had patterns of dopamine receptors in the brain that resemble those seen in cocaine addiction. This type of pattern can lead to increasingly heightened reward-seeking behavior for that sweet, sweet dopamine hit (I’m looking at you, Subway Surfers).

Since science scared me and I was chasing the Y2K aesthetic, I invested in a flip phone. The plan was simple: do a week-long digital detox by swapping the smartphone for a forest green Nokia 2660, courtesy of Dick Smith. For the sake of simplicity (and because your attention span has been dulled by TikTok, let’s be honest), this article has been broken down into handy sections chronicling the good, the bad and the ugly of my week with the Nokia 2660. Let’s get started.

The good

First impressions were pretty positive. The phone arrived quickly, and in the box were a pair of wired headphones (Apple and Samsung never managed to do that). When I first opened the phone, it felt like I was healing my inner 2000s child. When I closed it, it was even better—watch out, Blair Waldorf. The phone also came with an SD card, which I used to download a few songs using a perfectly legitimate YouTube-to-MP3 website. It’s just cool to hear Chappell Roan on a phone that looks like it came straight out of 2007.

The best thing about owning a flip phone was undoubtedly the reactions other people got. Pulling it out of your pocket was a sure way to make people smile. During an appearance at YourI pulled it out to film the dance floor and was met with gasps and laughter. There’s just something inherently charming about the design of a flip phone. People were keen to get into the video Only to see what it looks like to be filmed with a flip phone. I have never felt so popular.

The Nokia was a fantastic icebreaker and highly recommended for starting a conversation with people. The photos I took with my new friends were a highlight. There’s something about pixelation that brings an otherwise boring photo to life. Don’t be fooled, the camera quality isn’t great – not at all, that is. But if you’re willing to sacrifice quality for pure vibe, the Nokia 2660 is the way to go. Mirror selfies are done and ready to be uploaded to MySpace.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention perhaps the Nokia’s best feature: Snake. Since there was literally nothing else on the phone that provided short-term entertainment, Snake became the main attraction. And I got so damn good at Snake, folks. Instead of passing the time doomscrolling, I was guiding a tiny digital reptile across the screen, which was arguably just as mundane but far more rewarding. I never managed to beat the game, but within a week I came pretty damn close.

Speaking of which, doom scrolling is much more difficult on a flip phone. The 2660’s internet connectivity capabilities are nil – so it’s appealing to those who want to quit online life overnight. Internet access was limited to my laptop, which made for a much less addictive experience, as the desktop layout of apps like Instagram and YouTube is just unappetizing. My non-uni-related screen time went downhill. I went from ten hours a day to just under two. The flip phone may be an extreme change, but if you want to cut down on your screen time immediately, it works.

After all, owning a flip phone felt so much better Fun than a smartphone. Maybe it was the superiority complex of looking just like every cool girl in early 2000s movies. Or maybe it was owning a phone that flipped over and had big, pressable buttons. Instead of a device designed to draw you into its glass screen, I carried a conversation piece in my pocket. You really have to experience flipping open your phone to answer a call to know what I’m talking about – the vibe is unmatched. Either way, I loved the idea Being the owner of a flip phone. In reality, this is not the case.

The bad

While the idea of ​​owning a flip phone was tempting, the reality of navigating life with one was decidedly less sexy. The Nokia’s lack of internet connectivity presented some difficulties in an increasingly online world. Going out to clubs without being able to order an Uber bike home was not exactly reassuring and probably sounds like a security nightmare to most feminine-looking people. Over time, being so disconnected from the grid felt more and more like a vulnerability. As a notorious planner, not having access to things like Google Maps, a menu PDF or online reviews was a special, digital version of my personal hell.

Communication was also noticeably more difficult. The only way I could stay in touch with my friends and family was via text, which is probably not most people’s preferred method of communication. And I cannot stress enough how much Slower It’s about writing text messages using a phone keypad, not a regular keyboard. If I were five years older and my kids had been able to practice on a keyboard, I might have been better prepared.

Unfortunately, I always typed on the screen, so the transition to keys was not pleasant. I texted my mother, “On the new flip phone: Talk later” I had to stand on campus for two minutes and struggle with the keyboard layout. It was a real bummer, but even more embarrassing because I’m not even old. If I had stuck with it, I could have undoubtedly brought my keyboard skills up to speed, but the whole experience was so demoralizing that I just gave up. Once you get the hang of the on-screen keyboard, it’s hard to go back.

Plans are much more often made over Messenger or Instagram these days, so texting felt like the virtual equivalent of Oliver Twist: hat in hand, begging for a meeting. Combine that with the texting speed of a Victorian orphan, and I was well on my way to FOMO, which drove me back to my laptop and upped my social media hours—which kind of defeated the whole point of owning a flip phone. Is it Black Mirror of me to say that I miss my smartphone?

The Ugly

The counter-culturalist in me hates to admit it, but I don’t think flip phones and I are meant for each other. Respect to anyone who thinks so. Using one means actively rejecting more convenient, advanced, and addictive technologies. The dangers of a smartphone are also its strengths: the Internet’s wealth of information, music, and utilities are just a tap or a scroll away. There’s so much technology packed into our little glass rectangles that once the novelty wears off, it becomes a hindrance to go without one. I use my smartphone as a notepad, GPS, and planner, as well as a means of communication; switching to the flip side meant giving up all of that, too.

The way the world is evolving also makes it much harder to switch to flip mode. We’re becoming increasingly cashless (I bet you didn’t even notice the entire campus is cashless), restaurants are starting to use QR codes instead of wait staff, and it’s almost expected that you have access to your email at your fingertips. The world is changing, and using a flip phone felt like I was digitally digging myself into the ground. It bordered on Ludditism. Not cute.

And to top off the whole experience, as if sensing my dislike of a constant flip phone, the Nokia 2660 broke within a week of purchase. So much for the glory days of the indestructible Nokia. I’m not entirely sure why this happened. The battery suddenly stopped lasting more than ten minutes, and I decided to take it as a sign from the universe. The 2660 now sits in my desk drawer: a sad, green reminder of the days when I tried (and failed) to go against the grain, resist an increasingly online world, and fight my screen addiction.

But according to the WHO I am still not technically addicted, so I guess I’m off the hook. I’m going back to Insta Reels.