I Don't Have a Smartphone
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A European tech writer explains why he tells people he doesn't have a smartphone.
Ploum describes telling vendors and professionals "I don't have a smartphone" to avoid pressure to install apps. He lists 10 assumptions behind requiring an app (e.g., user has a working phone with battery, storage, network, Google account). He owns three phones: a Mudita Kompakt e-ink Android phone without Google services, a FairPhone 3 with /e/OS for banking apps, and an old OnePlus 5 with Google for emergencies. He argues nobody wants the apps and predicts forced Google accounts.
He notes European politicians ignore this dependency while funding AI and blockchain. He links to posts about phone addiction, European alternatives, and the Offpunk manifesto.
What commenters are saying
Several commenters share similar frustrations with mandatory apps, smart toilets, and QR-code menus. One user tried a dumb phone twice but returned to a smartphone after a GPS unit had outdated info and family couldn't call on WhatsApp. Another argues making the device work for you (silencing notifications, curating apps) solves the problem. A commenter notes smart appliances are hard to avoid but says they simply never enable the features. One user points out that requiring an app for every interaction is a business tactic to create lock-in and recurring revenue, not user benefit.