Summary
A growing number of adults and teenagers are trading in their sophisticated devices for simpler models. This shift is not about a nostalgic nod to the past but a conscious choice to address mounting concerns about mental health and digital addiction.
Survey: 46% of Generation Z take measures to limit their screen time. We’re also noticing a growing trend toward dropping smartphones in favor of mobile tech from decades ago.
In 2022, nearly 80% of feature phone sales came from the Middle East, Africa, and India. U.S. sales of feature phones were up in 2022, with tens of thousands of units sold each month.
In North America, the market for dumb phones is pretty much flatlined, says Moorhead. Companies like Punkt and Light are at the forefront of this trend, designing devices that prioritize intentionality over connectivity. People are beginning to ask themselves what kind of relationship they want with their devices.
Luke Martin, for instance, plans to stick with his new, simpler device. “They think it’s pretty weird,” he said. ‘But at this point, I’m like it doesn’t really matter because it�’
