Swapping My Smartphone for a 90s Kit: A Month of Analogue Life

A failed street robbery was my wake-up call. Two men on a motorbike drove onto the pavement to target me. But I was staring at my smartphone, gripping it so tightly they gave up. I only noticed when a woman screamed. That moment made me ask: how much of real life am I missing? My average digital day starts before coffee. I scroll social media, check news, answer messages, use dating apps, and refresh email. I navigate by app, rent bikes by app, and pay by phone. My downtime is a blur of streaming, online shopping, and digital photos. So, I decided on an experiment. I put away my iPhone. For one month, I used a basic Nokia phone, a Walkman, a film camera, and paper maps. My life began to change immediately.