Full Breakdown
Gen Z Swaps Smartphones for “Dumb Phones” to Cut Social-Media Use
8/7/2026, 12:27:43 AM
Core Event
A growing segment of young adults is abandoning feature-rich smartphones for stripped-down “dumb phones” that lack social-media apps. Kendall Schrohe, a 23-year-old from Washington, D.C., replaced her iPhone with a flip phone from Dumb.co and describes the change as “heaven on earth.” The move reflects a broader desire among some Gen Z users to unplug from platforms they view as addictive.
Background & Context
Social-media consumption remains high. Pew Research reports that roughly half of U.S. adults in 2025 accessed platforms such as YouTube and Facebook at least once daily. The American Psychological Association notes that the average U.S. teen spends nearly five hours per day on social media, a usage pattern researchers compare to substance-use behaviors.
Data & Statistics
- Dumb.co, a startup selling flip phones pre-loaded with limited tools (e.g., Uber, maps, Spotify), says it has more than 5,000 active users, most of whom are 24-year-old women.
- Other providers include The Light Phone and Brick, which offer companion devices that block social-media apps on smartphones.
- In March, a jury ruled that Meta and YouTube were liable for creating products that fostered harmful, addictive behavior among young users, a decision that could shape future litigation.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, studies social-media effects on youth.
Schrohe credits a program called “Month Offline,” partnered with Dumb.co, for helping her sustain a 30-day smartphone hiatus and for prompting her to recognize a preference for life without constant online access.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Dr. Jason Nagata
- “In the long term, many do notice improvement in sleep, better concentration, less overall stress.” — Kendall Schrohe
- “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,” — Kendall Schrohe
These developments illustrate a nascent counter-trend in which young people seek simpler devices to reclaim mental well-being and autonomy from pervasive social-media ecosystems.
