Responding to Matt Fradd - Kill Your Phone

I just had the pleasure of listening to Matt Fradd's podcast on why you shoud get rid of your smart phone and was so excited by what he had to say, that I had to join in and add some of my own thoughts to his.

[EvieGevie]

Personally, I think the reason Matt Fradd was finally successful in switching to a “dumb phone” is because he moved to Steubenville. When he tried this before in Atlanta, he failed. But now he lives in a strong Catholic community and doesn’t feel the need for a virtual community. It also helps that he has staff who can manage his social media posts for him and he’s self-employed, so able to manage things that require internet while he’s “at work”. I’m not on social media (except YouTube), and do not feel strong connections to a local Catholic community. Therefore, podcasts and prayer apps etc are where I get that connection. I suspect that if I moved somewhere like Steubenville and could hang out with Scott Hahn on the regular, I’d be more inclined to give these things up.

[peternaus]

Great video. I love how Catholics are oriented towards living a life immersed in Christ, and exploring and understanding the gifts God give us. I loved how you described compulsion. It is a scientific study to understand mental issues like anxiety and mindlessness and I love how you apply philosophy as a science. (theology is queen of sciences, and philosophy is the king of the sciences)

[elizabethrosemary]

My confession today was about how angry and contemptuous I get on line regarding either my pro life convictions or navigating the covid nightmare. Father suggested I stay off social media unless I’m doing something ‘constructive’. I got rid of twitter and Facebook but am over using Instagram. This video was most timely!! I’m leaving vancouver to Calgary at the end of November. Seeking to escape the covid madness. I’m going to help take care of my mom who we had to rescue from he care home last year. We will be living outside the city on my family’s huge acreage! I can’t wait to see your progress on getting your acreage!!

[stephrichards]

This is what I needed. I'm a slave to my phone to the point that a few weeks ago, it said I used my phone 36 hours less than the week before!! I don't want to know how many hours I actually use my phone!! Also, I mainly watch Youtube - I deleted Facebook 8 years ago. I'm not on social media. I love your channel (as a transgender, protestant Anglo-evangelist) but whenever I access faith-based content, something will catch my attention and try to put me off. I have to make a real concerted decision to watch this type of content. Thank you for this, I enjoyed your comentary.

[irodjetson]

When you are struggling with phone addiction then I think what Matt is saying makes sense. I switchef to a flip phone for a while but had connection problems, at that point I was pretty good with not using the internet unless really necessary, I got myself a smartphone again because of those connection problems and my addiction is to the roof, it's painful to see a device take up the attention that could have been directed to my family and God, to study, to plan for a better life, etc...

[levisando]

I'm all for taking drastic action to cut off my access to things that distract. But Fradd (as much as I love his work) is suggesting a phone that can't do so many things that are essential or near-essential. For example, when it comes to "messaging" it can only use SMS. And what about, for those that don't own/use a personal computer, those that need things like access to personal banking apps? And like you, working in a position/industry that requires on-the-go access to things is also important to me for the sake of my livelihood.

I need to have access to my work chat and email when I'm not at the computer for the sake of keeping things running.

So I agree, a more complicated method, like what you're doing, makes more sense. Sure, it can be hard and require a bit more self-control (or the humility to allow someone else to have the "keys" to unlock the bad habits), but it's better than forcing oneself to be completely removed from the 21st century.



I, too, am glad that Matt Fradd is inspiring this conversation, but I don't think it's sustainable for _everyone_ to be on a "dumb" phone. But I do miss that era where "smart" phones were only used by the nerds and the business moguls.

[johncox]

Very interesting presentation. I have noticed my attention span has greatly diminished since I have had a smart phone and social media.

[mistermusik]

Excellent presentation. I agree with you and Matt. I stopped FB completely about 6 months ago. No joke, I felt withdrawal for about a month. I will go back eventually but strictly to post and then leave immediately. I know for sure most of my “friends” there would benefit from me sharing your (and others’) videos. But I won’t stay to read or “follow”. Thanks.

[providebitdominus]

Very mature and wise. As we've been used to with you, dear Brian. God bless!

[peternaus]

I have never been a fan of the Benedict option but Covid is definitely making me appreciate that line of thought more. Its sad how we can't interact normally in society anymore.

[catholicrakelle]

I don’t have any social media apps or video watching apps on my phone so I have to log on via my safari browser to watch anything, including this video, or I have to use my phone’s hotspot to watch on my tv or laptop. I don’t do a lot of that because I have a limited amount of hotspot data. I also don’t pay for cable or internet so that helps a ton! I’ve been listening to more music and reading which makes my soul very happy. Great video, Brian!

[maggie]

There’s ALWAYS a virtue point! Always. Although it may be helpful for some. We don’t have to operate at extremes. Pray and discern! Personally I would love to have a dumb phone but I don’t feel like everyone must have one to reach perfection.

[katedunning]

A sermon once focused on Ephesians 5:18….Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.

He focused in on the word cheapens (or debauchery in most translations) and explained that it was meant as a dilution of your life. That by drinking too much, you are not concentrating the power of your life.

And I thought, “If this were being preached on today, the preacher would say, ‘Put the phone down!….it’s cheapening your life!!’”

I’ve tried to limit my phone since then but still far from where I’d like to be.

[Teamfra]

Your honesty is always refreshing! More peace as a parent. Thank you!

[justinjustinjustin]

Phone has too much temptation for me both in sin and in neglecting other things. Better to enter the kingdom of heaven without 4G LTE than to not enter at all.

[amoswollen]

Matt's convinced me. I'm getting a Wise Phone in a couple of weeks.

[kichigaisensei]

You can turn off the notifications on each app individually. Like Facebook. It'll be less tempting to check the status every time your phone tells you someone commented or liked your stuff. Make a deliberate time to use it. Don't worry...you're not missing anything. It'll be there when you're ready.

[ohmightywez]

I’ve cut off our cable and most of our streaming.

We only have a few and very manageable points of contact for news and information and we have limited the sources of outside entertainment.

I am required to have a smart phone though and so is my husband. It’s how I navigate, it’s how our work communicates with both of us and how we maintain our contact with both of our extremely large and ever growing families. Mexican on one side and Irish on the other, both families are taking the commandment to be generous with love and resources within marriage very seriously.

[clairet]

I tried a Light Phone II for a year but found I had to keep my iPhone because there was no adequate replacement for a camera, email, gps. And then, of course, I ended up still using it for everything on wifi and just had the inconvenience of having two phones and neglecting the light phone. I eventually switched my cell service back to the iPhone. I feel like a failure. I always want to severely limit it, but then always have the excuses “I need it for x y z.” I think you have helpful advice though. There are ways to make it more intentional. It’s just so hard when I am very isolated in my community, and it’s hard to get out there with 2 babies under 2. I should pray about it.

[TracyW-mebr]

At this stage of my life my smartphone makes life easier and I need as much help as I can get. I’ll have to settle for doing my best with good old self control.