Comments on: I Threw My Smartphone Away 14 Years Ago

By: TAG's best filter

TAG's best filter — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 21:09:25 +0000

In reply to Mendel. Their best filter is from a company in England called TECHLOQ. They are very thorough. They did not do a filter for a phone because they did not want to do it until they were sure that it would be thorough. Maybe by now they have one for a phone as well

By: A Viewer

A Viewer — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:15:50 +0000

I strongly agree. I think mothers with smartphones spend less time with their children and it is detrimental to their emotional health and wellbeing. Not being exposed to entertainment 24/6 allows people to think.

By: Mendel

Mendel — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 22:25:52 +0000

In reply to how is a computer difrent?. Which filter?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:46:23 +0000

Thank you for sharing this article. I had a smartphone for two years before giving it up. It was probably the most difficult but best decision I have ever made.

By: Alternatives

Alternatives — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:11:05 +0000

https://www.turninglifeon.org/turning-life-on-resources/smartphone-alternatives?utm_campaign=as-npt116018533

Not everything here is totally kosher- (some might have spotify) but it does list alternatives to smartphones

By: Alternatives

Alternatives — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:07:46 +0000

https://www.turninglifeon.org/turning-life-on-resources/smartphone-alternatives?utm_campaign=as-npt116018533

This is a website that lists smartphone alternatives

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:25:59 +0000

100%. I can’t even find the words to write or say about the disaster unfolding with the next generation. Unfortunately a whole generation was damaged. IYH we should be able to fix the damage and prevent it from continuing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:19:32 +0000

BH I never got one. It would be so hard to part from if I had

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:50:22 +0000

In reply to Moshe. Make a website can help and doing events etc…

By: Figphone

Figphone — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:49:42 +0000

In reply to Fig phone. Yes I also do it’s great!

By: Gil

Gil — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:41:17 +0000

Your comment suggests that there is something wrong with having Internet in general.
Having access to the Internet is a good thing but when the access is constant and in your pocket at your fingertips then it is too much and becomes counterproductive.
You cannot walk around with a computer.
That is the difference.

By: SafeTelcome

SafeTelcome — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:23:06 +0000

In reply to Thank You.

Look into SafeTelcome. It might technically be a smartphone, but is browser-free (and has no whatsapp)), and has access only to email, waze, zmanim etc.
They sell these phones in the phone store that is next to Rockland Kosher in Monsey. I am sure there are locations in Brooklyn and Lakewood too.
Hatzlocho!

By: Moshe

Moshe — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:48:56 +0000

In reply to Thank You. I think there is a kosher phone they sell in Flatbush that has GPS, also go to the tag office and ask them about it and all your questions I'm sure they'll be able to help you 555 leferts ave hours are limited

By: Moshe

Moshe — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:41:50 +0000

Don’t stop here!! make a organization for this call it something like Lubavitch united for responsible technology and youth development and make this a whole movement with classes and events! educate the public!!!! Especially for the youth I don’t want to see a bochur or girl with a smartphone ever again!!!!!!!!!!

By: But

But — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:55:41 +0000

You only had it for a few weeks…
So you didn’t have anything on it… Didn’t get a chance to get attached…
And probably all the stuff you’d need a smartphone for you just use the computer?

By: Fig phone

Fig phone — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:13:54 +0000

In reply to Good Kosher Phone. Fig phones are also a great option

By: how is a computer difrent?

how is a computer difrent? — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:31:18 +0000

Kol hakavod Zev, Another reason a computer is different is that TAG’s most effective filter is only available for computers- unless that has changed recently

By: Good Kosher Phone

Good Kosher Phone — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:47:17 +0000

In reply to Thank You. Visit koshervy.com They have a great flip phone , that has Waze and a few other convenient apps. Additionally they have coming out a little more expensive kosher phone, but has more apps, and is much easier to use.

By: Thank You

Thank You — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:36:52 +0000

BS”D

I lost my phone a week ago, and I am strongly considering to be without the smartphone.
Wondering, whats a good model Phone to get that doesn’t have all the smart phone Negatives, but still has waze, and possibly Shiurim, Zmanim, or the like.

one last question, is it possible to get whatsapp on a computer without having it on my phone, I cant be sure Ill withstand the temptation, although it will certainly free up a lot of my time!

By: Sholom

Sholom — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 01:29:42 +0000

I completely agree but how can having a home computer be any different than a smartphone? In the chabad community everything is dependent on the internet in every way even for chinuch and just general so getting rid of a phone
In a chabad community doesn’t feel so motivated unlike in polisher and litvisher communities

By: Thank you

Thank you — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:03:21 +0000

Yes! The more people hear that it is normal and ok to live without a smartphone, the more they will have the strength to withhold. I had a smartphone for years, and now I can proudly say that I am 5 years clean without a smartphone. As a mother, shlucha, teacher, I have gained such a quality of life by giving up the phone.
The images that my family and friends sent on whatsaap would fill my mind during the day, would fill my conversations at home and would disturb my thoughts at night. I was no longer baal habayis of my own mind. Can anyone with a smartphone honestly say that their mind hasnt been exposed to images or ideas that a Yid shouldnt be exposed to?
As Chassidim we try to be so careful what we see, hear, listen to, read, yet with a phone the bechira in this area becomes very weak.
Iskafia today (think basi legani, dor shvi, dira btachtonim), is not about abstaining from ice cream its about holding back on what we SAY, HEAR, READ and LOOK AT.
[I heard this bsheim the Rebbe but unfortunatly I can’t provide a source]

Give up the convinience, give up the easy communication with your parents abroad, give up the endless amazing photos of your children and your shlichus- for the sake of your neshoma and the neshoma of your children.
Do yourself a favour and do your family a favour, give up the smartphone.

By: wow

wow — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:55:37 +0000

finnaly someone saying the truth and not trying to fool himself

By: Thanks for addressing this

Thanks for addressing this — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:54:07 +0000

Thank you so stimulating this much needed discussion. You are absolutely spot on. The manner in which many use the fact that the Rebbe embraced use of technology as a medium of Hafatza as a free pass for their “inviting the Galach into their home” (Halevei – it’s much worse…) is shocking and dishonest to say the least. Think about it: We are so careful about their child not seeing an image of a non-kosher animal, but are we as careful about our children not seeing immodest images? This is aside the cultural erosion that seems to be happening, mainly thanks to social media and smartphones.

I’m curious about what people think about utilizing social media. Unlike television, which just has to be broadcast, social media requires engagement on the platform. How can apply the Rebbe’s approach of utilization of technology while ensuring total purity with social media?

By: Yichud Camera

Yichud Camera — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:33:48 +0000

I think we need to institute a yichud camera movement. A camera in the back of the room that is used to monitor you during you computer usage.