We asked participants to upload screenshots of their iPhone’s screen time page showing their average daily screen time in the past week. Prior to blocking mobile internet, our participants’ screen time was very similar to the screen time of the average American smartphone user (2)
The intervention significantly reduced smartphone use. Average screen time decreased in the Intervention group from 314 min at T1 to 161 min at T2 (Cohen’s dz = 2.22, P < 0.001) and rebounded to 265 at T3 (dz = 1.02, P < 0.001 compared with T1). In the Delayed Intervention group, daily screen time decreased slightly from 336 min at T1 to 322 min at T2 (dz = 0.32, P = 0.011) and dropped to 190 at T3 (dz = 2.39, P < 0.001).
Our results provide evidence that blocking mobile internet from smartphones for 2 weeks can produce significant improvements for SWB, mental health, and the objectively measured ability to sustain attention.
Even those who did not fully comply with the intervention experienced significant, though more modest, improvements. These findings suggest that constant connection to the online world comes at a cost, since psychological functioning improves when this connection is reduced.
https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/2/pgaf017/8016017?searchresult=1&login=false#506527390
Get a dumbphone!
I’m curious, have you tried to get phone service for a cellphone and actually telli g them you don’t want data packages. I would imagine the phone monekys will have no clue how/what to do, and the service will still come with data, or it’s a pay as you go plan.
I had a bitch of a time getting cell service, and NO VOICEMAIL. they just couldn’t understand and kept forcing it telling me it’s cheaper. a month or so of fighting and finding the 1 intelligent person at the company, set it up without voicemail. the service was instantly $7 cheaper… but ya know, it was more expensive according to the other donkeys.