[darkclarity]

I have gone through a similar phase. Got rid of social media, switched back to a feature phone, am reading real books, listening to music on physical media, using cash where possible and whatever else.

The Internet has gone from a place with a high barrier of entry (and the interesting characters that self selected for that barrier), to an all encompassing entity with a load of moralisers, businesses and governments fighting over the ability to call the shots.

In its current state, I think it's better to take a step back. View the Internet as an occasional tool for getting things done, rather than a place to live within and rely upon. Let the masses have their addictions fulfilled, while technology enthusiasts move on and enjoy real life.

[icebraining]

a load of moralisers...let the masses have their addictions fulfilled, while technology enthusiasts move on and enjoy real life.

Physician, heal thyself!

[debacle]

What feature phone are you using? For the life of me I can't find one these days that isn't a cheap piece of crap.

[arximboldi]

I recently got a Nokia 130 because I lost my old phone. Dunno if it goes above your "piece of crap" line but it serves very well my needs.

[sanoli]

I use a Samsung flip phone. I still prefer the flip ergonomics to a touch-screen one (for ordinary voice call use obviously). Someone calls me, I pick up the phone, flip it open to answer if I want to, talk, close it to end the call, all with one hand, without having to even look at the thing (I can check the outside lcd to see who it is before answering it also). When I want to call someone (I only call about 5 people regularly (wife, mom, dad, sister, closest friends), I just flip it open and press the corresponding speed dial button. For this kind of use, a touch screen doesn't come close.

[nicky0]

You can pick up some decent classic Nokias on eBay. I think the 1101 is a good choice.

[jd3]

I don't really agree. I think we can make the web so much more. The main problem is trying to cut through the endless amount of drudge and bullshit.

[swah]

Many of us depend on it to pay the bills, though. On the internet, to build stuff for other people to use the internet more and generate more internet related jobs...

[tonyedgecombe]

People had jobs before the internet came along.

[sp332]

There were a lot fewer jobs back then though.

[drdrey]

Doesn't HN qualify as some sort of social media too?

[iBzOtaku]

The difference is, it's old school in here. The content, the people, the UI, it's all very different from the modern social media. I had trouble staying regular here when I first discovered HN but after a while, it feels nice to come and see people talking differently from the rest of the Internet. The closest thing to HN is a few reddit subs. This is what feels home now, not Facebook or Twitter like it used to.

[haldean]

I wish I could get a feature phone that just had Maps (and maybe Lyft). Being able to get a map of where I am, anywhere, is a pretty amazing thing. On the other hand, I wish I could get all of those notifications out of my pocket asap.

[CuriouslyC]

I hardly get any notifications on my phone. I don't have facebook/twitter/etc installed, and I have a strict no-texting policy.

If I really want to focus I put my phone in airplane mode.