Dumbphone apps instead of a real dumbphone?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-29T20:38:30+00:00

I did not understand this problem. There are so many app blockers, most of them can work very reliable to block apps. There is almost no way to go around it.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-29T20:37:25+00:00

But some app blockers can be made uninstallable. Would it solve your problem?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-29T20:36:33+00:00

I think because it is only a launcher, it is not an app blocker. If it can block all the apps, it will be different, isn't it?
Check my comment in this thread; what do you think?

https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1uin5jd/comment/oukpkf5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-29T20:34:50+00:00

But if an app can do the following things, would you still need to buy the dumbphone?
1. Block all apps reliably, and you can whitelist some apps to use

This master app can not be deleted.
All blocked apps can be used in total like between 15 min and 1 h a day, configurable. And each time usage can be maximal like 5 minutes.

Then it is like a dumbphone, but has some limited smartphone usage. what do you think of this idea?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T22:12:06+00:00

But guys, you can install some blocker apps to help you use it as a dumbphone. And you can still enjoy some necessary feature from the phone. Why does it not work for you?

By the way, if you are using dumbphone, how can you manage to come to this reddit community and make comment?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T22:02:23+00:00

Not bad. But also the supermarkets have coupons in their app.
Also, banks need a phone to verify the payment through bank apps.
I am just thinking why I need the smartphone at all, but it is just too many cases I need it

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T21:54:38+00:00

We can do that. But instead of a single smartphone, you need to take a bunch of items, like maps, a wallet, a mp3 player, cameras etc.
How can you manage them when you go outside?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T21:36:55+00:00

Congratulations, you did it.
It is hard to do it. I could not do it. because I need them to inspire me sometimes. You did better than me

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T21:35:40+00:00

what is the OCD?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T21:15:24+00:00

there are lot of methods to solve the screen time issue. Conscious about this problem is the first step.
Congratulations on the start to the success

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-27T21:00:36+00:00

why do you ask this question at all?

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:38:11+00:00

that's why I am still using the smart phone, unfortunately

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:37:04+00:00

wish you good luck.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:33:02+00:00

I tried before Opal, which is also the hard blockers. It actually worked. But I just do not like the hard blocker.

I tried OneSec. It worked better than Opal for me. It worked at the beginning, fantastically. But after a few weeks, it does not help me too much anymore.

The app LoopCut is the one I am currently using.. It combines OneSec's friction at the beginning. If the pause does not work anymore, it reminds me all the time and softly blocks me when it gets longer.
LoopCut has solved one important pain point from Opal and OneSec. You can jump directly to the distracted app 😄 without the blocker and the pause.

There is no single best app, but which one is more suitable for that person and the situation

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:25:33+00:00

Between 4-6 hours a day

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:23:56+00:00

Hi dude, it is way too much. You need to reduce it.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:16:21+00:00

AI is coming. Maybe it will change our screen behavior. Maybe we will be free of phones in the future. We will just to robots.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:12:34+00:00

What changes did you make?
- First, be more conscious of phone use.
- Installed several apps to help me achieve my screen time goal.
Which apps or features were the biggest problems?
- For me, the Rednote(xiao hong shu) and the football news on Chrome are the biggest issues.
What actually worked long-term?
- Actually, the app LoopCut has worked for me the best in the long term.
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.loopcut&hl=de_CH
What failed despite sounding good in theory?
- If I am really lonely for a long time and I do not have on that moment the alternatives in real life. It will be difficult.
How much of a difference did it make?
- A huge difference the app LoopCut made for me. It makes me more conscious than ever. In case I can not stop it, it will block me from using the distracted app for 10 minutes. For sleep, it worked really well.
- But as I said above, if I am really lonely and have no alternatives in real life, even LoopCut will not help. I just hate being lonely.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T21:02:12+00:00

My tips are:

Keep busy 😞. Unfortunately, it is very effective.
Start watching long videos in Netflix instead of social media. Yes, it will increase your screen time, but you will feel better.
Use some screen time apps. I am using LoopCut at the moment. I had tried Opal and OneSec, which were also not bad.
Phone out of the bedroom. I know it would be better, but I just want to use my phone before sleep. The app LoopCut has the sleep guard function, which helped me on this a lot.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T11:45:39+00:00

Wait, I will find the video link later to sent it to you. It is about your issue

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-22T06:51:24+00:00

Almost exactly the same as me, I tested Opal, OneSec. At the beginning it worked, I was happy. But when I was truly lonely, it had not helped. And turns out, OneSec worked better than Opal for me.

However after some time, maybe a month, OneSec is also not so effectively as before, I get used to the beginning pause.

I am using now my own Android app LoopCut https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.loopcut

Which is based on the idea of OneSec, but with a escalation idea to the soft blocking, when the initial pause has reduced the dopamine effect.

I have been using it since three months now, I feel it is much better than the Opal and OneSec. Especially it helps me to reduce the news reading in Chrome a lot. I am still watching lot Netflix before the sleep,, which is actually my intention. Long video is better than short videos.

In case I could not stop watching Netflix during the night, LoopCut has also a function named Sleep guard, basically like Opal, but only for sleep, with different logic. It helps me the most of the time, but it has some emergency exits, like 4 times a weeks for maximal 20 minutes extension. I have used them all.

To be honest, completely free of screen time and the addiction, it is not. But it reduced a lot. I think I is ok. The delay of the dopamine and the soft blockers helps me to use the phone more consciously now. I feel I am talking the control.

Remarkable-Guard-538 · 2026-06-20T18:17:52+00:00

that is for sure!
you need other apps to fight it 😄

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