Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#141

Post by gnicholas » Mon, May 03, 2021, 8:48 PM UTC

Turn on the system-wide parental controls and have someone else set the password. You can set time limits for apps (x mins per day), designated hours for apps (only between 6-8p), and block apps outright.

If you live with someone who can be your password-holder, this is easy with little downside. If you don't, you need to think about the possibility of emergency use of the phone. But I think it will let you call 911 at any time of day regardless of parental controls.

One thing I will note from when I set this up years ago for a friend's family: there aren't persistent preferences, and once you disable parental controls (even just for a minute), you have to re-enable every single control manually. This may well have changed in the last 5 years though — I certainly hope so!

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#142

Post by gnicholas » Mon, May 03, 2021, 8:49 PM UTC

vbsteven wrote: post #46

You can use the Apple family stuff to setup your iPhone as a child in the family. Then you have parental controls I believe let you restrict apps and domains the phone can access.

You can use parental controls without linking your phone to anyone else's.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#143

Post by davzie » Mon, May 03, 2021, 8:50 PM UTC

astral303 wrote: post #128

davzie wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the most insightful things I found was actually that simply feeling that phone use is bad makes it feel bad and puts you in a bad loop of “I’m so terrible I can’t stop checking my phone etc”. Also when I’m stressed with work, I focus and fixate on how much screen time I have. I would hazard a guess that you have more emotional / other issues that would benefit you to address. For me it was stress with work and…

This comment is on point! You have to be nicer/kinded to yourself. Life is hard/stressful enough as is. When you start feeling bad about yourself, as GP said, "I'm so terrible I can't stop checking my phone", you take away hope and you start living only in the "now". "I'm so terrible" is a gross overgeneralization that puts your mood and increases your need to feel good via the addictive behaviors. Compare that to th…

Side note: The Secret is actually a great book who’s message on positive thinking has all but dispelled my negative talk about my work and habits and simply just made life feel much easier. It’s totally whacky but I just kind of love it !

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#144

Post by andi999 » Mon, May 03, 2021, 8:51 PM UTC

robotmay wrote: post #34

swen-rekcah wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the suggestion I have turned on the grayscale filter, and I think it may dull my interest in the device re:screen time - I have attempted this multiple times, and even got my partner to set the passcode. However I just bypass it and reset it via forgot passcode and my Apple ID password

If you trust your partner, encourage them to be stricter with you and to further restrict access to your device. Create a new Apple ID that only they have access to and reset your phone to that ID, then lock it down again. You can also go further with other settings then like using a DNS server that allows you to block the domains of problem sites, stopping you from bypassing the lack of apps with websites. Also, may…

Different people might need different medication. While anxiety is usually treated with tranquilizers, there is also a possibility there is an undiagnosed adhd, so stimulants might work better.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#145

Post by egypturnash » Mon, May 03, 2021, 8:52 PM UTC

due to having a “mobile only” bank account I have to have access to my iPhone.

Is changing your bank account an option?

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#146

Post by soledades » Mon, May 03, 2021, 9:04 PM UTC

swen-rekcah wrote: post #27

Daily20 wrote: post #6

You can use Screen Time to prevent yourself from installing new apps. First, delete all applications aside from your banking apps. Next, go to Settings - Screen Time - Content and Privacy Restrictions - iTunes & App Store Purchases. From here, you can disable installing apps, which hides the App Store on your phone. You can also disable Safari from Screen Time. If you find yourself turning off Screen Time, have someb…

Thanks for the suggestion re:screen time - I have attempted this multiple times, and even got my partner to set the passcode. However I just bypass it and reset it via forgot passcode and my Apple ID password

When they set up screen time passcode, have them enter their apple id and password. Then you will not be able to reset it with yours.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#147

Post by u678u » Mon, May 03, 2021, 9:08 PM UTC

I ran out of data one time and it put me on 2g speeds, which was great because the bare minimum worked, but browsing the net was painful.

I really wish there was a way to get slow connection sim cards. Anyone know of this? Maybe a cheap MVNO that throttles to keep prices down.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#148

Post by tomr_stargazer » Mon, May 03, 2021, 9:13 PM UTC

I really like the book "How to Break Up With Your Phone" by Catherine Price [0,1]. It has a 30-day step by step plan to restructure your habits around technology, and I've found it more effective than anything else. I especially like that it is gradual, gentle, and promotes mindfulness rather than trying to force an all-or-nothing approach ("cold turkey").

[0] https://www.amazon.com/How-Break-Up-Your-Phone/dp/039958112X [1] https://www.powells.com/book/how-to-break-up-with-your-phone...

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#149

Post by ibn-python » Mon, May 03, 2021, 9:13 PM UTC

davzie wrote: post #55

davzie wrote: post #54

My time to shine! I spent 2 - 3 years going back and forth between dumb phones and smartphones with various different measures for the same reasons. Here is my video with my final summations on the topic and how some techniques I’ve found may help you (iOS specific): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-TKgRxdA5o Feel free to follow me on Twitter too and chat about any questions you have. I’ve been playing around with t…

One of the most insightful things I found was actually that simply feeling that phone use is bad makes it feel bad and puts you in a bad loop of “I’m so terrible I can’t stop checking my phone etc”. Also when I’m stressed with work, I focus and fixate on how much screen time I have. I would hazard a guess that you have more emotional / other issues that would benefit you to address. For me it was stress with work and…

What books would you recommend? Have similar not good enough feelings towards work.

Re: Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?

#150

Post by Wowfunhappy » Mon, May 03, 2021, 9:16 PM UTC

> I do have a second “dumb phone” (Nokia flip 2720) but due to having a “mobile only” bank account I have to have access to my iPhone.

Could you switch banks?

Could you move you sim card to your Nokia phone and uninstall every iPhone app except your banking app? (Effectively turning the iPhone into a single-purpose banking device.) I’m primarily thinking about setting up parental controls, with a friend as the “parent”.