Why a Boston University Student Switched from a Smartphone to a Flip Phone for Better Mental Health
By
Maggie Ma (CAS’26)
Crackles when you bite it. Shows the baker did the work.
Summary
A Boston University student shares their personal experience of switching from a smartphone to a flip phone to combat digital addiction and improve mental health. The article discusses the growing cultural awareness of the harms of endless scrolling, the challenge of relying on self-control against an industry designed to maximize screen time, and how using a simpler device helped transform their life by fostering mindfulness and reducing digital dependency.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledPhrases like 'brain rot' highlight a growing cultural understanding that endless scrolling isn't cool or good for us anymore.
The solution isn't carrying the addictive device in our pocket and telling ourselves, 'Just don't.'
Trying to 'tough it out' and rely on self-control around smartphones can be incredibly challenging—especially when an entire industry is pouring money into keeping us scrolling longer.
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