on minimalist devices - re: light phone
I was recently invited by Clara Piacenza to interview on the topic of minimalist digital devices for her Masters thesis. I'm excited to share the results of our work here today!
Objective: To understand the socioeconomic background, motivations, and behaviors of consumers using minimalist digital devices.
1. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
Hi there! I go by the pseudonym Maxie Laine. I'm a '99 baby :) I run a little blog where I write about digital minimalism, tech decentralization, and other related (and unrelated) topics. I live in a suburban area. My town is rather touristy - filled with a plethora of boutiques and expensive bistros.
2. What is your relationship with technology in general?
I grew up alongside the first iterations of the technology we use today. I remember when the iMac was first introduced into schools. I owned every generation of Nintendo ds. I remember my first cell phone and I remember being afraid to open the web browser knowing it'd incur exorbitant fees by the minute.
despite this, I've always been drawn to function over form, and never saw a reason to upgrade my devices while they were still useable. when the day finally comes to replace a device, I will always purchase secondhand or refurbished. (tech upgrades don't matter much to me as a casual user)
my daily screentime before starting my journey into digital minimalism was abysmal. I'm almost ashamed to share that it was anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day. 800+ notifications. screen unlock numbers in the hundreds. now, around 4 years later, my screen time is down to 3h with an average of 9 notifications a day.
3. Would you say your professional or personal life requires heavy digital engagement?
My professional life has always required a heavy amount of digital engagement. My career path recently took a turn, but for the 12 years leading up to that, I was a professional digital artist (amongst other things).
I had a strict posting schedule and it was clear that going a few days without posting, commenting, or interacting, would be met with punishment. that is to say - my engagement would suffer immensely. Posts would go from an average of 20k likes down to the low hundreds. When rent depends on digital engagement, you learn to do whatever it takes to keep your numbers up.
In doing so, I found that my relationship with art had become burdensome. I turned myself into a brand and became a machine; churning out whatever I thought the algorithm would boost. I lost touch with what made me want to make art in the first place and at the peak of it all, I decided to quit art altogether.
I now work as a barista in a local cafe and it's given me a chance to finally sever myself from social media completely. I am learning to appreciate the slowness that life has to offer.
4. From a financial perspective, would you describe yourself as someone who invests in premium or niche tech products?
I'm definitely a sucker for niche tech - AS LONG as it fills a gap in my lifestyle and offers a good amount of longevity. That being said, I am extremelly frugal when it comes to 'investing' in tech.
some things I've purchased:
$40 corded IEMS - I am an avid rhythm gamer and use these at work with my VITA as well as at the arcade for sound isolation + better timing <3
$20 wristwatch - so I can check the date/time without having to touch my phone. (helpful for food prep at work + because I lose my phone often)
$5 point and shoot film camera from the thrift shop - fun to take on bike rides so I can leave my phone at home and not worry about missing a picture of something beautiful
remarkable tablet - for reading / art / note taking (wonderful device, but I ended up returning it and using an old kindle I found instead.)
I'm curious about the boox palma, the playdate console, kobo ereaders, pomera writer decks, teenage engineering's tiny beat machines, and more - but I already own analogues of most of these devices that I can't justify replacing at the moment. perhaps in the future :)
5. What made you interested in purchasing a minimalist digital device?
I knew I had to get rid of my phone when I realized it just wasn't fun anymore. It's the same feeling I had when I would open Instagram to message a friend only to be sucked into reels for hours on end, forgetting how I got there in the first place. No amount of deleting apps or password protection seemed to solve the issue completely, so the only clear solution seems to be: using a device that blocks web browsers and apps entirely.
I loved the Light ethos since its inception, but the LP2 was a bit too minimalist for my lifestyle. I used a friend's light device and thought it was cool, but I couldn't imagine myself adopting it fully at that time in my life. When the Light Phone 3 was announced, it felt like my prayers were answered. I've never seen a device check all my boxes like this one has. Can you tell I'm excited?
6. What problem were you trying to solve when you bought this device?
As soon as my alarm goes off in the morning, the first thing I see is my phone. I have ADHD and my phone acts keenly as a pacifier. When I wasn't keeping up with my habits well, I would spend more time on my phone and notice a clear decline in my mental wellbeing, brain fog, and focus. After doomscrolling, sometimes I would put the screen down and feel as if I was in a daze. It's a sobering feeling to say the least.
7. How did you first hear about this product?
I heard about the light phone through a friend of mine who used one. I played with it and was instantly enamored. The form factor was quirky and incredibly appealing. As I said before, I have kept up with Light since all those years ago and was thrilled to see the LP3 announced.
8. Did price play a role in your decision?
nope!
9. What do you do instead of using your smartphone ? What activities did you want to practice more?
I collect physical media. Mostly tapes + CDs sourced from local thrift stores. (great way to get an introvert out of the house)
I run a blog where I write longform essays (and a fair number of rambles) on lifestyle, tech, community, minimalism, you name it. I find immense joy in writing, even to a small audience that may or may not be watching. It has been a wonderful substitute for traditional social media.
I have picked up reading again. I enjoy visiting the library weekly - and it's only a 15-minute bike ride away. there are so many physical books, audio books, games, music, and attraction passes you can borrow free of cost.
I have fallen in love with cycling recently. When your hands are on the handlebars, they can't be on a phone! I explore the city, see how far I can go on the bike trail, and let myself stray off the path whenever I feel like it. It helps me slow down - something you don't get when you doomscroll and lose hours in seconds.
GEOCACHING. If I'm bored, I'll take my bike out and head over to the nearest cache left undiscovered. I'm a big gamer and even bigger on "game-ifying" my life. This to me feels like being sent on a side quest... probably my most satisfying hobby.
I spend a lot of time with friends and it's easy to lose a day in good company. we'll hike, bike, or grab a bite together and I always come home with a full heart. it's something that makes me feel strangely human.
10. How often do you use your minimalist device?
It should be noted - I don't have a light phone yet.
I currently have an iPhone 13 mini with a matte screen protector, minimalist launcher, set to greyscale, all apps + bloatware removed.
(It's conjuring the image of someone with bad impulse control sitting in a padded room with a straitjacket... but I am proud to say that yes, all of this is necessary.)
11. Have your digital habits changed since using this device?
I spend less time on my phone this way because I don't have a choice. Unless I want to scroll through my photo gallery or my banking app, (which I'll admit, I have done out of sheer boredom) I'm out of luck.
I have a laptop I use occasionally, but its lack of portability really hinders the number of hours I can log into it. I'm often at work or out biking, so by default, I can't use it as often as I would a handheld phone.
12. Have you noticed any unexpected challenges or limitations?
funnily enough, I still pick up my phone and search for an app to get lost in - the same way I would absentmindedly pick up my phone and scroll on FB, insta, X, before I deleted the apps. My brain short circuits for a moment when I realize there is no way to get that hit of dopamine I crave anymore.
13. Do you own any other dumb devices?
I own a kindle, buried somewhere in my room. I hope to one day own a pomera so I can draft my blogposts offline and on the go :)
14. Do you see your purchase as part of a broader lifestyle choice or philosophy?
I absolutely see myself as part of the digital minimalism movement. The ethos is ingrained in my every action at this point - it's a way of life.
15. Do you perceive yourself as more educated than average about the risks associated with social media and digital privacy?
I consider myself to be keenly aware and educated on the risks of social media and digital privacy - more than most.
There were two events in particular that I could say were formative in my understanding of online safety + privacy.
[ redacted for privacy ]
I have seen the underbelly of the web and my choice to veer away from its various social offerings is a deliberate one.
phew!
16. Do you think digital minimalism is accessible to everyone?
I believe that digital minimalism is totally accessible. One look at r/dumbphones will show you a hundred people with $20 flip phones and not a care in the world. You can "dumb down" your smartphone or even choose to leave it at home in favor of an ipod and a digital camera. When it comes to premium devices like the light phone / etc., the price point is steep - though you could argue that these specialty devices aren't really necessary in the pursuit of digital minimalism.
END.
I just published a long blog post before I set out to tackle this interview and I'm feeling a bit winded; It's 10:35PM here and instead of leaving this as a draft for another day - I'm sending it out unfinished.
There is a small chance I may revisit the final few questions another day, but in the meantime - don't wait up for me.
Best of luck with your thesis,
max
p.s.
I find that putting my ethos (and reasoning apropos) into words in such a manner helps to solidify and clarify my beliefs even further - so thank you for this opportunity, genuinely.