After reading an article about Gen Z’ers exodusing from the smartphone lifestyle and technology, I sat for a moment rather moved, consoled really. People are fighting back. Why are dumbphones making a comeback? To answer this let’s define what a dumbphone is or what the metaphor is, really.

Back in the early 1980’s, Motorola released the first brick phone as they were called. They were a thing of prestige though weighing two pounds and being a foot long. They cost more than $3000 with only 30 minutes of talk time and took 10 hours to charge.. One could send and receive calls on an analog cellphone network.

No texting, Internet access, cameras or apps just calls. No wonder gen z is ditching smartphones for the simpler flip version, they’re calmer with less things to do outside of talking.

Unplugging from social media is one major reason for the dumb down. Big tech has designed the whole digital ecosystem to run on caffeine keeping users hooked. It’s their job. Apparently, there are many from Gen Z and the Millennials refusing to stay caffeinated and continue on with the digital fatigue rollercoaster. Frankly, they and all of us are worn out.

Nokia 2780 Flip has become one of the popular go to phones for it’s basics: sned/receive calls, GPS, and texting. The digital minimalism movement is here to stay and smartphone companies are in for a surprise if they think it will be short lived. People are burned out with Internet and social media overwhelm: the endless scrolling, the ads, the feeds, the notifications and lack of privacy.

Not to mention the feeling of putting yourself out there all the time. I think the dumb down from digital media and smartphone tech is coming from the need to unplug and get back to living without having to notify everyone on the planet about what you’re doing every ten seconds.

The flip phone is just one solution. Gen Z and anyone else going this direction is going to have to allow themselves the chance to digitally detox by developing non-information overload disciplines:

1. No phone time at the dinner table

2. No phone while driving

3. Use your Nokia 2780 at break or lunch while at work

4. Phone is not accessible while at work

One can go on and on, you get the idea about breaking the urge or whatever the reason need to check your phone every minute.

As a graphic designer in the print on demand industry, I had an idea come to me after reading the article on Gen Z’ers dumbing down to flip phones. Before the article, I was working on a more serious design like my other cellphone awareness graphics. But, the idea of a funny seemed right. Proverbs in the Bible says, A merry heart does good like a medicine. 

My mind is always turning with graphic design ideas. Our shop creates faith and patriotic designs as well as these under the inspirational sayings category. Being a pastor, the idea for this digital minimalism graphic on a retro ringer t-shirt came easy because I see this problem all the time even among church people. 

So, this design, though funny, holds personal weight for me. Tech is all fine and good when used properly. But in todays world, it has gotten way out of hand and become too controlling. The funny saying that dumbphones are back making people smart again comes from, well, the need to not end up like the people in the Pixar film, Wall-E.

Have you ever been with family on a vacation, a barbecue or fireworks display on July 4th where at least one member of the group never put their phone down?

I’ve seen people watch an entire fireworks show through the display screen on their smartphone. Never once did they put it down and experience the moment for themselves. Instead, “the phone” captured it for them. I have no desire for my phone to replace my memory or ability to experience, period, beit a firework display, a sunset or conversation.

I believe the migration away from the noise of the smartphone lifestyle, whether through flip phone or digital discipline will make us smarter because it challenges and removes the idea of total dependency, addiction, and entrapment of the digital and online world. 

Finally, this graphic design was fun to create using tools like Photoshop, Illustrator and Canva. I hope you find it nostalgically funny with a pun on words. The ringer tee comes in several colors: natural midnight navy, natural black, white black and heather grey black. Sizes range from XS to 3XL.  

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