Some smartphone users shift back to basic phones amid digital fatigue

As smartphones have become an integral part of daily life, a segment of users is voluntarily giving them up and returning to basic phones limited to calls and text messages. The shift is driven by concerns that constant notifications, video streaming and social media content disrupt concentration and make it harder to sustain focus. Research indicates that notifications divide attention even when users are not actively engaging with their phones. With apps removed from a basic device, its appeal diminishes: a call remains just a call and a message just a message. In a recent study in which mobile internet access was cut for two weeks while calls and messages remained available, participants showed improvements in attention and well-being indicators, along with increased time spent on activities such as face-to-face conversation and exercise. Specialists note that abandoning smartphones entirely is not realistic for many users, as work, banking, navigation and digital verification depend on the devices. Experts say that when notifications, apps and digital habits are brought under control, smartphones can still be used in a more balanced way.