DIGITAL LIFE

Feature phones' popularity continues to rise as parents seek to protect children from online dangers

The internet can be a dangerous place for children, from the negative physical and emotional effects of social media, to the risks of encountering something or someone unpleasant. With most under-18s now carrying smartphones, it's easy for them to be online almost constantly. As a result, worried parents are pushing up the sales figures for feature, or dumb, phones.

According to British mass media and telecommunications company Virgin Media O2 (via The Reg), sales of non-internet connected feature phones have doubled in the UK year-on-year, with a huge spike experienced in September, the month the new school year begins.

Somewhat ironically, Nokia, the brand whose phones were so prevalent in the early 2000s, is currently proving popular among those wanting to avoid the digital world. One of these is the latest model of the Nokia 3310, which comes from brand-owner HMD. The famously difficult-to-destroy handset was originally released in 2000.

It's not just protective parents buying phones that offer little more than calls, texts, and simple games (the new Nokia 3310 still features Snake, of course). Older consumers put off by increasingly complicated handsets and talk of artificial intelligence are opting for simpler, easy-to-operate feature phones.

Dumb phones are also a common sight in industries where the devices are likely to be damaged, such as construction and oil rigs. Smartphones aren't known for their ruggedness, and not only are feature phones generally tougher, but their low prices (around $50 to $100) also mean breaking one is much less painful than destroying a $1,000+ Apple or Samsung flagship.

This isn't the first time we've heard about non-smart phones making a return. A report from Counterpoint Research last year noted that the number of devices sold in the US was increasing. It's believed that part of their popularity comes from Gen Z - those born between 1997 and 2012, currently aged 12 to 27 - who are trying to cut down on screen time to protect their mental health and reduce the number of distractions in their lives.

Eton College, the prestigious UK boarding school, bans smartphones for incoming first-year students, offering them the use of dumb Nokia phones as an alternative. The school hopes the scheme will help create an environment that supports learning while minimizing distractions.

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