People are becoming far more aware of the implications of using technology all of the time. Whether it’s cyber-bullying, data protection or for mental or physical health reasons, people have been taking breaks from social media and their gadgets.
It is thought that this is having a direct impact on the type of phones people are buying. A study of over 10,000 students across England and Wales has revealed that almost 75% of people have undergone a ‘digital detox’. This so they can escape from the control of their gadgets. Many people said they would probably do it again in the future.
Brick Phones
We are now seeing an increasing number of people using ‘brick phones’. And it’s not just older people. More younger people are using them as it becomes a trendy thing to do. At the end of last year, Nokia released their new version of the classic 3310. More recently, Nokia revealed that they are also bringing back the 8810. Commonly referred to as the ‘Matrix phone’ from back in the day, the 8810 is available in some vibrant colours. This is to that it appeals to the younger generations. The re-release of these two old favourites proves that the demand is out there. People want a functional communication device that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that can often be quite distracting.
Many people surveyed said that they had more than one phone. Typically, this would include a smartphone like an iPhone 7 Plus and a more basic phone, so that the user could switch between the two as and when they wanted to. An increasing number of people who use a smartphone for work or education are switching it off at the weekends. They are then reverting to a brick phone that is only capable of making calls, sending texts and perhaps snapping the odd photo. This means that they are much more ‘present’ in their everyday lives as they can live it properly rather than through a screen.
Early Days
While the research is very new and it’s definitely early days, this could be a sign of things to come. People are getting fed up with being preoccupied with their phones all of the time, so they are beginning to turn their back on social media, online games and other time sucks. This could be the start of something new that could lead to the decline in high-end smartphone sales altogether.
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