To Smartphone or Not to Smartphone

For the past 6 months or so, I've been using a dumbphone nearly exclusively. However, I'm dipping my toes back into smartphone usage with some limitations. There's a lot of reasons I'm going back to using a smartphone more regularly, and Ironically it's for the same reasons I started using a dumbphone to begin with. The main reason I started using a dumbphone was to facilitate intentional use with technology, disconnect from the predatory nature of Big Tech and their data hoarding, and connect more with my family. The last one being the most important. For a while, I felt like smartphones were designed to get in the way of connection rather than help foster it. This is largely true with social media. However, when it comes to interactions when the person you want to talk to isn't nearby then you need to use a phone to talk to them. Usually this is texting. Anybody who has ever used a flip phone will tell you that T9 is a pain in the ass. Even if you get quick with it, it's not very…