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Generation Z uses dumb phones in the US

31. 03. 2023 Friday / By: Robert Denes / Generic / Exact time: BST / Print this page

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C ompanies like HMD Global, maker of Nokia phones, continue to sell millions of mobile devices similar to those used in the early 2000s worldwide and, of course, in the United States. This includes so-called 'feature phones' - traditional flip or slide phones with additional features such as GPS or hotspot. You may have read earlier that this trend is beginning to rear its "head" in Europe, Africa and some parts of Asia.

"I think we're seeing that with certain Gen Z populations — they're fed up with screens," said Jose Briones, a dumbphone influencer and moderator of the subreddit r/dumbphones. "They don't know what's going on with mental health and they try to discount it."

In the United States, HMD Global's monthly sales of tens of thousands of phones increased in 2022. At the same time, HMD's global phone sales declined, according to the company.

According to Counterpoint Research, almost 80% of mobile phone sales in 2022 came from the Middle East, Africa and India. But some see that number changing as young people in the US return to dumb or minimalist phones.

“The dumb phone market in North America is pretty flat,” Moorhead said. "But I see it growing as much as 5% over the next five years, if nothing else, based on public health concerns."

Companies like Punkt and Light are bucking the trend, selling devices aimed at people who want to spend less time on their phones and social media. You will find a bunch of influencers on YouTube promoting these phones.

Via Link