I'm not alone in often dreaming of throwing my iPhone down a well, buying a 'dumbphone', moving into a cabin into the woods and recording a seminal solo acoustic indie-folk album (sorry, got a bit carried away there). The internet is full people who, alarmed at their smartphone use, are growing increasingly 'dumbphone' curious. But what if there was a way to curb your smartphone addiction without the help of a nearby well?
Users are discovering a feature within the Settings menu of 2023's iOS 17 update that transforms the iPhone UI into something much simpler and more restrictive. Assistive Access is ostensibly aimed at those with cognitive disabilities, providing "more focussed features". But the dumbphone community is embracing it with open arms.
