The Logging Off Movement is a scam

Taylor Lorenz founded UserMag.co, a tech and online culture newsletter. She has also written a book called Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet.

She recently wrote this in her newsletter:

Over the past few years, a massive industry has emerged around dumb phones and the concept of logging off. From $400 minimalist dumb phones to influencers selling digital detox courses, logging off has become big business. Schools are banning phones. Politicians are blaming screen time. Media outlets are calling Gen Z “addicted.”

But is ditching your smartphone actually the answer? For my latest episode of Power User, I sat down with WIRED journalist Elana Klein to unpack the rise of the logging-off movement. We discuss how reasonable concerns over screen time have metastasized into a consumer movement selling $400 minimalist dumb phones for millions in profit.

We also dive deep into the anti-smartphone moral panic, which is heavily pushed by reactionary politicians and legacy media. We explore the history of our relationship with the internet, from the tech optimism of the early 2010s and the algorithmic shift in 2016 , to the dangerous reality of school phone bans that are leading to AI surveillance and increased police interactions for students.

We also talk about the concept of “smartphone addiction,” what it really means, and why your issues with technology are often manifestations of much larger societal problems.

Here is the video podcast of which she doth speak:

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