Luke Jones interviews James Marriott from The Times about his experience of giving up his smartphone for a year. James recounts his initial reliance on smartphones, particularly for social media and news, and his subsequent attempts to limit his screen time. Frustrated with these failed attempts and motivated by his own writing on the negative impacts of smartphones, he decided to switch to a basic Nokia phone. He describes the initial anxiety of disconnection and the surprising freedom he felt, but acknowledges the practical difficulties of relying solely on a basic phone. James then discusses his move to "dumb phones" with limited functionality like WhatsApp and Spotify, and the societal implications of smartphone use, including its effects on politics, mental health, and cognitive abilities. He also touches on the growing movement of people seeking to disconnect from smartphones and the potential for a broader societal shift in attitudes towards technology.
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