Gen Z Embraces Dumb Phones to Break Social Media Addiction
Wertynews.com – Kendall Schrohe recalls the exact moment her life changed when she traded in her smartphone for a basic flip phone. The 23-year-old from Washington, D.C., described the experience to CBS News as feeling like “heaven on earth” the instant her iPhone disappeared from her life.
Schrohe represents a growing wave of young Americans abandoning smartphones for simpler “dumb phones.” This shift aims to reduce social media consumption while addressing concerns about mental health impacts. Additionally, some users express nostalgia for a pre-smartphone era they never personally experienced.
Understanding the Dumb Phone Trend
Recent data highlights the scale of social media engagement. According to Pew Research, approximately 50 percent of American adults accessed platforms such as Facebook and YouTube at least once daily in 2025. The American Psychological Association reported even more intensive usage among younger demographics, noting that U.S. teenagers spend nearly five hours each day on social networks.
The term “dumb phone” encompasses several device categories. Traditional flip phones from the late 1990s and early 2000s represent one end of the spectrum, offering basic calling and texting capabilities. Hybrid models combine flip-phone aesthetics with messaging applications and other features. A third option involves smartphone technology specifically configured to block social media platforms.
Schrohe purchased her device through Dumb.co, a startup offering phones equipped with practical applications including Uber, maps, and Spotify while excluding social media entirely. The company reports over 5,000 active subscribers, with the average customer being a 24-year-old woman. Alternative providers include The Light Phone and Brick, which manufactures companion devices that pair with smartphones to restrict social media access.
“Young people, because we grew up on these platforms, it’s very hard for us to imagine a life where we’re not addicted to it because that has been the norm our entire existence,” Schrohe explained.
Legal Precedents and Health Research
A significant legal development occurred in March when a jury determined that Meta and YouTube bore responsibility for creating products that fostered harmful, addictive behaviors among young users. This ruling may establish precedent for future lawsuits against social media corporations.
Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, has extensively studied how social media affects youth. His findings indicate that social media engagement can replicate patterns observed in substance abuse disorders.
“In teenagers and then even in adults, the sort of features of the design can lead to symptoms similar to substance-related addictions, which can include impaired control, withdrawal, tolerance and relapse,” Nagata stated.
Nagata’s research also demonstrates meaningful benefits for individuals who reduce or eliminate social media use. He noted that many people experience improved sleep quality, enhanced concentration, and reduced stress levels over time.
Schrohe spent years attempting to gradually reduce her social media consumption and smartphone usage. She ultimately achieved success through “Month Offline,” a program partnered with Dumb.co that challenges participants to abandon smartphones for 30 days while engaging in screen-free communal activities.
“I needed that extreme measure, like to physically not be able to access social media in order to realize, like, that I actually preferred life without it,” Schrohe told CBS News. “The concept of social media, it’s not like inherently evil. It’s the way it’s designed to keep you on it. That’s like the negative part.”
She concluded by encouraging others to consider changing their relationship with technology. “If you feel like you want to change your relationship with technology, like, you can. It really opens up your mind.”
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