Smartphone: A Luxury or a Necessity?
For about the last 5 years, my family has been part of an outdated Verizon plan. Back in the day, Verizon offered an unlimited data scheme, but quickly abandoned it when they realized it wasn’t the smartest business model. My dad discovered a loophole – do nothing with the plan and retain unlimited data.
This meant we kept paying for an extra line, even after my grandmother’s passing.
It meant that amongst the five phones on the plan, only three had data. My mom had to suffer through with a flip phone, which she began to hate more and more each year.
It meant we spent full whack on phones, then had to battle with Verizon to get them activated. There was once an exasperating time where I bounced between Verizon and the Apple store five times just to get an iPhone working.
It all came across as slightly absurd every time, until I thought about the alternative. The weird bit? Just a decade ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed that a tiny pocket computer would be a necessary monthly expenditure. Part of me yearns for simplicity, question the sanity of spending almost $500 on a phone, or spending $160 a month for four people’s phone services. A prep-paid flip phone, especially given my aversion to phone call, would cost me around $30 a year!
Despite this, another part of me relishes having the entire world at my disposal. So much so, that when I sensed my previous phone going faulty, I began to save for a new smartphone instead of considering reverting to a flip phone.
So, what if I didn’t have a smartphone? Here’s how things would look:
The Cons:
I would need to invest in a traditional GPS for my car – there’s no going back to paper maps for me. One challenging experience in Canada where I had to navigate with a map because my data didn’t work was enough!
I would have to always carry my laptop, as my work demands regular email checking and online accessibility.
I wouldn’t be able to accomplish as much, especially in terms of networking and reading blogs online with my current job.
The Pros:
I would be far less infatuated with social media.
I would be more present in life rather than always documenting it.
I’d read more physical books.
According to earlier research, I would regain 2 hours per day.
Honestly, if it weren’t for work, I think I could survive, even thrive in returning to the pre-smartphone era. I reckon it would initially feel like ditching a bad habit, but it’s manageable.
How about you? Could you leave your smartphone behind and revert to simpler communication?