HMD is building an anti-smartphone, a device designed to limit screen time and social media, and it does so with the help of parents. HMD has leaned heavily on the “digital detox” concept for some time, until recently when it announced HMD Skylinewhose software has a special detoxification mode built into it.
But what he has in mind next seems to go much further. It’s called the Better Phone Project, and at the moment there’s no actual phone to look at, but there is some research worth considering. Most of us have read about or even experienced the negative impact that social media can have on our mental health, and some of us have at some point considered or even acted on the desire to cut back on screen time.
HMD’s own study of 10,000 parents around the world took a slightly different view. More than half said they regretted giving their child a smartphone, often starting at age 11, and 70% said they “became more involved in their family” because of their smartphone-free childhood. Almost half believe smartphones have changed their children’s personalities, while 75% believe smartphones expose children to “internet dangers,” and a similarly high number believe phones also affect sleep and activity levels.
Armed with its research, HMD, which stands for Human Mobile Devices and replaces the old name HMD Global, says it’s creating “a suite of new devices, including a new phone” to address the issue, and wants parents to be involved in creating a solution that works for them. HMD hopes the Better Phone project will resonate with parents, as it argues that people born between 1997 and 2012 (or Generation Z) are also looking to live a lifestyle without the internet.
HMD says it wants to create a phone with the “best balance,” meaning it will likely sit somewhere between feature phones like the Nokia 3210 and a digital detox mode on the new HMD Skyline. As mentioned, the Better Phone Project is not just about phones, and will likely include other devices as well. If you want to get involved, HMD is hosting virtual forums where you can voice your opinion, and you can sign up on the company’s website here.
Source: Digital Trends
