蜜芽传媒

Some studies have suggested that long hours on our smartphones could have a detrimental effect on our psychological well-being, although others have pointed out the benefits of a greater social connection.

Newsday spoke to Arne Bangsgaard Mathiasen, who is an advocate of the 鈥渄umbphone鈥� movement 鈥� using a simplified handset limited to telephone and text functions only. He works with young people in Denmark to help them switch off and enjoy the present moment.

Speaking to Newsday, he says that his conversion was prompted by noticing that his "anxiety level dropped, especially in social situations", when by accident he switched from a smartphone that broke to a so-called "dumbphone". His students took part in experiments using just dumbphones for 10 days. He says the students noticeably talked a lot more with each other, slept more deeply, and said their anxiety levels also dropped. He says young people are the most resistant to giving up their smartphones, but that they are the ones who also potentially stand to gain the most from not using them.

(Photo: Students using older mobile phones. Credit: Arne Bangsgaard Mathiasen)

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