Why Gen Z is Ditching Smartphones for Dumbphones

Younger generations are increasingly ditching smartphones in favor of “dumbphones”—simpler devices with fewer apps, fewer distractions, and less tracking. But what happens when you step away from a device that now functions as your wallet, your memory, and your security key?

In this episode, Tom and Scott explore the dumbphone movement through a privacy and cybersecurity lens. Drawing from a recent Wired article, the conversation digs into digital burnout, surveillance capitalism, multi-factor authentication dependencies, and whether opting out of smartphones is an act of digital self-defense—or a step toward digital disadvantage.

** Links mentioned on the show **

Dumbphone Owners Have Lost Their Minds
https://www.wired.com/story/dumbphone-owners-have-literally-lost-their-minds/

Previous Shared Security episode from 2022 about the rise of dumbphones
https://sharedsecurity.net/2022/04/18/dumbphone-sales-are-soaring-john-oliver-blackmails-congress-cicada-chinese-apt-group/

** Watch this episode on YouTube **

** Become a Shared Security Supporter **

Get exclusive access to ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, listen to new episodes before they are released, receive a monthly shout-out on the show, and get a discount code for 15% off merch at the Shared Security store. Become a supporter today! https://patreon.com/SharedSecurity

** Thank you to our sponsors! **

SLNT

Visit slnt.com to check out SLNT’s amazing line of Faraday bags and other products built to protect your privacy. As a listener of this podcast you receive 10% off your order at checkout using discount code “sharedsecurity”.

Click Armor

To find out how “gamification” of security awareness training can reduce cyber risks related to phishing and social engineering, and to get a free trial of Click Armor’s gamified awareness training platform, visit: https://clickarmor.ca/sharedsecurity

** Subscribe and follow the podcast **

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SharedSecurityPodcast

Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/SharedSecurityShow/

Visit our website: https://sharedsecurity.net

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://sharedsecurity.net/subscribe

Sign-up for our email newsletter to receive updates about the podcast, contest announcements, and special offers from our sponsors: https://shared-security.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Leave us a rating and review: https://ratethispodcast.com/sharedsecurity

The post Why Gen Z is Ditching Smartphones for Dumbphones appeared first on Shared Security Podcast.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Shared Security Podcast authored by Tom Eston. Read the original post at: https://sharedsecurity.net/2026/02/02/why-gen-z-is-ditching-smartphones-for-dumbphones/

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 Tom Eston cloud storage, Cyber Security, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Digital Detox, Digital Minimalism, Digital Ownership, Digital Privacy, Doom Scrolling, Dumb Phones, Episodes, Gen Z, Information Security, Infosec, Mental Health, mobile devices, Multifactor Authentication, Nostalgia, Podcast, Podcasts, Privacy, Retro Technology, Screen Time, security, smartphones, social media, Tech Burnout, technology, Technology Trade-offs, Weekly Edition