Truth be told, we’re all a little bit addicted to social media.
A digital detox is something I’ve been curious about for a while. I admittedly used to show every single aspect of my life on social, but in recent years I’ve become much better at taking time for myself and sharing bits I want to retrospectively. But do I spend at least four hours a day on my phone? Certainly – if not more.
So when I heard that HMD was bringing out a Barbie-themed ‘dumbphone’ costing £99, I knew I had to give a week-long detox a try. Surely it would be easy, right? And there were so many people saying how “cool” and “y2k” the phone looked on social media that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to up my street cred a little with the latest funky gadget in my handbag.
Speaking about the device, Lars Silberbauer, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Human Mobile Devices, said: “In our fast-paced digital world, it can often feel like the online buzz never stops. This phone encourages you to ditch your smartphone in times when you just want less browsing and more fun, all with the help of a true cultural icon, Barbie.”
We’ve become so used to having everything at our fingertips. Want to pay for something? Use your phone. Want to track your bestie to see whether they actually have left their house when they text you saying they did? Easy, pull up ‘Find My’. Want to take a quick video of the adorable cat you’re petting and send it to all your pals? Snapchat is your best friend.
But while my social media usage may be more ‘healthy’ than others – think no doom scrolling, using socials for outfit inspiration, sending posts about our star signs to my best friends etc. – social media is still a very big worry for many parents as their kids want smartphones, but are unaware of the dangers as they’re so young.
Charlotte Marsh, a Buteyko breath coach who specialises in helping children improve their breathing, said smartphones make kids “permanently on high alert”.
“When our nervous system is in this stressed state, our breathing speeds up, we breathe in a shallow pattern and as a result, we expel an excessive amount of carbon dioxide in our exhales. this alters our blood chemistry and our mind goes searching for the reason why our body doesn’t feel safe and is stressed,” she said.
But in spite of this, there’s so much pressure to have the latest of everything, so could this style of phone, similar to the ones I had when I was a kid in the noughties, be the answer?
Well, there’s no denying this phone fits the aesthetic I would’ve wanted when I was a pre-teen. A mirrored phone with a predominantly pink interface, keys that light up in the dark with fun icons such as flamingos and the Barbie ‘B’, and cute ring tones. What more could you possibly want?
Well, it turns out that nowadays I’ve gotten far too used to writing on a qwerty keyboard, so I had to teach myself the old T9 tricks again so my friends weren’t waiting three business days for a response from me.
I really did miss the ease of group chats during the detox. It is so hard to have back and forth with multiple pals on an SMS-based forum. I missed the camaraderie of planning meet-ups and seeing funny memes. My friend even had to text me to let me know Charlie XCX had posted on X, formerly Twitter, that brat summer was “officially over”. I felt really out of the loop.
But despite the fact they’re difficult, why are digital detoxes so important for us? Jacqueline Carson, Clinical Hypnotherapist claimed every Sunday she bans herself from all social media and feels so much better for it.
She said: “I have a strict rule, that one day a week, usually a Sunday, I have no screen time at all. I do try and take breaks during my working week, however, I find that having a full day away from the screen gives me a total detox. On these days I feel less rushed, calmer and more in control of me.
“My mind is clearer and I am able to focus better. Headaches and eye strain go away completely. I also find that I am not tempted to check socials when I am not online and this makes me feel more grounded, more me. I am not tempted to compare myself or my business with others. Mentally I feel balanced and clear.
“On non-screen days, I take time to be in the present and give myself permission to take time off and focus on myself. I might spend time outside in nature in the garden or walking. I meditate and practise some yoga. Sometimes I might read or do something creative like cooking. I may spend time with family or go out for a day. Sometimes I take a spa day for myself and have a relaxing massage. I also listen to music and dance.
“Putting a screen-free day in the diary has helped me to prioritise my overall well-being and make it a non-negotiable habit. I know that every week I have this day to unwind physically and mentally. I am then more productive and ready to take on a new week.”
Having that context helped me to keep busy and take time to connect with myself. I read books, cooked some delicious and healthy meals for myself – including the best fajitas I’ve ever had – without feeling the need to check what everyone else was eating for their dinner, and did some colouring in.
I even felt able to focus more on work and was less distracted by my phone – apart from the occasional game of Snake. Texting was almost too much effort, so I went off comms a little bit with my friends, so much so that a couple of them texted me to say they ‘missed me’ and the group chats had died down since I was on my dumbphone.
Chartered Psychologist Manpreet Dhuffar-Pottiwal states: “Research suggests that excessive screen time and social media use can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness.
“This is particularly concerning for young children, whose developing brains are more susceptible to the negative effects of digital overstimulation”, she shared, explaining why social media can be negative for young minds.
“For children, social media can distort self-image and encourage unhealthy comparisons with peers, leading to issues like low self-esteem, low mood and social anxiety.
“The curated nature of online personas can create unrealistic expectations, making it difficult for young users to navigate their own identities in a healthy way. Limiting children’s access to social media can provide them with a more grounded sense of self and allow them to develop real-world social skills without the pressure of online validation.”
She said she believes “there is a place for HMD phones” if they are used to “enhance learning and creativity”. “However, it’s important to strike a balance, ensuring the use of such technology does not contribute to the same negative effects associated with social media and excessive screen time,” she noted.
Dr Charlotte Armitage, founder of bedevicewise.com and No Phones at Home Day, agreed, stating: “The use of devices has an impact on all aspects of health; sleep, diet, exercise and mental health to name a few.
“Children who have free reign on devices regularly stay awake late at night, they don’t sleep as deeply, and they wake up early meaning that their quality and quantity of sleep is impacted.
“This leaves the child feeling tired the next day. When we are tired or lethargic we make poorer choices relating to diet, towards risk-taking behaviours and our motivation levels for exercise, as well as concentration levels for school are adversely impacted.”
It’s clear to see why some people feel low in mood when scrolling on social media, as there are so many filtered and edited pictures, and young people are less likely to be discerning when it comes to this sort of thing. If I were a parent, I really wouldn’t want my little ones exposed to such things under the age of at least 13, so I believe phones like this have a solid place in the market for this reason.
There’s also the argument that on a ‘dumbphone’, children cannot access harmful things on the internet they’d be potentially exposed to if left to their own devices on a smartphone. However, I did check what sort of websites can be accessed on the web browser of the Barbie phone, and adult sites were interestingly not blocked, which I would’ve expected given the interface of the phone.
Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, said: “Keeping them [children] away from social media allows them to grow up at their own pace, learning to value themselves based on real-world experiences rather than virtual validation.”
Praising the HMD Barbie phone, she continued: “Phones like the HMD Barbie Phone, which strip away the distractions of social media, offer several psychological benefits. By focusing solely on communication, these phones reduce the risk of social comparison and the compulsive behaviours often triggered by apps designed to keep users engaged.
“For adults and children alike, this can mean less stress and anxiety, as well as a stronger ability to live in the present moment. The simplicity of these devices encourages healthier, more mindful interactions, promoting mental clarity and a more balanced relationship with technology.”
I also think if you were going on holiday, packing this phone, alongside a disposable camera, could be a really good shout. It would really allow you to live in the moment more, and while the Barbie phone recommends you don’t give up all social media at once as it’s “not a race”, I feel you’d probably get more from your getaway this way. Of course, let family and friends know you won’t be contactable on socials and keep in touch with them regularly so they know you’re safe.
This is something I struggled with. The inability to see friend’s locations so we could meet up with ease. The fact I couldn’t check my Ring doorbell to see whether there had been activity on it. I couldn’t even order an Uber. There are so many things a smartphone can do that make you feel a little more secure, which a ‘dumbphone’ just cannot offer.
In my week of easing off social media usage, I realised that spending time with yourself and feeling comfortable in your own company is a vital part of life – no matter how busy you are. It also taught me it’s easier to immerse yourself in activities you’re participating in, such as socialising with friends, as you’ve got no real distractions.
Sometimes, it’s easy to find yourself texting other pals when you’re with your mates, but I was really able to dedicate time to the people I was with – and I felt much more energised by it.
I also got a lot more reading done. I’m a big reader as it is, but when scrolling isn’t competing with it, I ended up reading 10 books in the week – which is quite impressive if I do say so myself. I spent time outside, chilling with the neighbours’ cats without having to take 100 pictures – I even got into listening to audiobooks on my Google Home as I cleaned up.
Rather than sitting on the sofa and looking at people’s holidays and feeling slight pangs of ‘damn I wish I was on holiday now’, I made the most of my current situation and did Zumba and yoga classes from the comfort of my own home.
Moving forward, I 100% will be going back to my iPhone because there are some non-negotiable things on there for me. But will I try to be less dependent on it, and make time for actual ‘real world’ activities? It has to be yes. Will I use the Barbie phone forever to try and do this? Probably not, but it’s helped me to reconnect with what I find important, and that truly is invaluable.