There’s a cultural shift brewing. The cool kids aren’t influencers anymore; they’re people who read books and have hobbies that don’t involve a selfie. The “Dumb Phone” movement is growing, with brands like Punkt and Light Phone selling minimalist devices that only call and text. It’s like 1999, but with better battery life.
Malaysia’s social media ban for under-16s: protection or overreach
Fun fact: Finland has a national “social media free” day every summer, where people are encouraged to spend time outside. And Japan has designated “digital detox” villages where you pay to have your phone locked up for a weekend. They get it.
The Truth About Connection
Here’s the irony: we’re more “connected” than ever, yet loneliness rates have tripled since 2000. Social media gives us the illusion of intimacy without the actual heavy lifting of friendship. A ban would force us to rebuild the messy, beautiful, inefficient systems of real human contact.
You might be thinking, “But what if I miss a party invite?” Relax. The people who truly matter will text you. Or call you. Or, and this is wild, show up at your door. The FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is just the anxiety algorithm sold you. The JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out) is the peace you find when you realize you didn’t need to see a photo of someone’s avocado toast anyway.
