You may have heard the phrase “the world you grew up in no longer exists” being thrown around. What do people mean when they imply that we are somehow living in a completely different world than we did 30 years ago? What is it about the world before the year 2000 that has millenials and gen X longing for a bygone era?

With technology and AI barreling down the pipeline faster than we can keep up with, it is no wonder that a large portion of the country, maybe even the world, feels as though something is missing in their world. Slowly and consistently, colors started to fade, technology became more powerful, smarter, and more dominant, and our physical media was donated in lieu of subscriptions and streaming services. We weren’t forced into this life though. So what the hell happened?

In 2007, the iPhone was introduced. Think about that. Just shy of 20 years ago, the first iPhone was released, and today we have technology that can convince people that Donald Trump is dancing in unison with Kim Jong Un. We are in a period of acceleration; technological acceleration, to be exact.

The more technology that is created, the most technology can be created. What is the end goal? Have we peaked? Is the human psyche already a luxury item and we don’t realize it yet? As questions and concerns continue to stock pile over the ever-expanding improvements and uses of AI technology, many are left hung in the balance, walking back their use of technology.

“I can’t sit by and complain about the death of humanity from the same device that is causing the harm,” says *John, a former tech engineer. “We don’t need this level of artificial intelligence. It isn’t perfected and it is not even fully reliable for use in medicine yet. What are we doing?”

John has traded in his iPhone 14 for a WisePhone, a 5G cell phone for intentional use only. No social media access, no constant distractions, “life essential tools only”, according to the phone’s brand. Interestingly, John is not alone in his quest for less screen time. Recent data shows that “dump phone” or flip phone sale are up. The demand for less addictive options when it comes to technology is going mainstream as market research reveals that Gen Z is actually craving the same nostalgia as millennials and have reported wanting out of the toxic cycle fo doom scrolling that can inevitably come along with having access to social media, news, and potentially misleading click bait 24/7.

“It was to the point where I would wake up and the first thing I did before I even kissed my husband was check my phone,” says *Nicole, another iPhone user considering the switch to a dumb phone. Nine times out of 10, the firs thing I would see on my phone would piss me off. It took me a while to realize how badly I was setting myself up for failure. How can you have a good day when the first thing you do is look at terrible news and ignore your spouse?”

Well, there is proof to back up this theory. It turns out, it actually does effect your mood, and your brain function, for the rest of the day. In 2023, PubMed Central published an article by Gengfeng Niu that found that a Social Media Detox brought participants better sleep, more mental clarity, subjective well-being, and an overall decrease in stress, depression and anxiety.

It can feel like we are stuck in a chamber of rapidly progressing technology, but there is a way out. Some ways you can practice more intentional phone usage are:

  1. Be Intentional – Do you NEED your phone every time you go to reach for it? If the answer is no, leave it.
  2. Turn off location permissions – Protect your space and your privacy. Giving other’s constant access to you can create feelings of being constantly needed or rushed.
  3. Consider a dumb phone – Did you know that many dumb phones still allow features such as email and 5G connection? This way you are connected, but with boundaries.
  4. Talk to your kids about AI and digital danger – As technology rapidly expands, so does the threat to our kids. Online predators can now use AI to lure children to unsafe places, black mail them with fake photos, and even kidnap them. It is important now more than ever to have an honest conversation with your children about digital literacy and what to do if they are ever faced with online threats of any kind.
  5. Try implementing games – instead of having dinner just scrolling on your phone afterward, enjoy a family or friend game night or doing a craft together!

The world of technology can feel overwhelming, especially to those who don’t understand it and simply use it as a tool for entertainment and convenience. Alas, hope is on the horizon as more and more people opt to disconnect from the digital world in order to reconnect with one another.

(All sources used in this article have been cited in the links included in the article. All of this information is based on research found on various polls, studies, and research platforms. The information has been provided accurately to the best of my knowledge.)

Original article