August Lamm Releases Book Urging Smartphone Downgrade After Quitting Hers at 27
Updated
Updated · CNN International · Oct 11
August Lamm Releases Book Urging Smartphone Downgrade After Quitting Hers at 27
1 articles · Updated · CNN International · Oct 11
Summary
August Lamm’s new book argues that giving up a smartphone can improve focus, relationships and well-being, drawing on her own switch to a web-free flip phone in 2022.
More than 8 hours of daily screen time for 13- to 18-year-olds, cited from the US Surgeon General, underpins her case that heavy screen use harms physical and mental health.
Lamm says losing constant access to apps and social media made friendships more intentional, reduced compulsive checking and replaced digital escape with analog habits like calling friends, reading and walking.
She also argues the practical trade-offs are smaller than people assume: tasks like printing tickets or paying bills offline take little extra time compared with hours lost to repeated scrolling and micro-checks.
For readers reluctant to quit entirely, Lamm suggests trying 1 month without a smartphone or using a basic phone as the primary device while keeping a smartphone only for medical needs.