Smartphone slaves, rise up and break your chains! 

There is an easier way for Ken Albertsen to avoid SMS ads – he can toss his smartphone into the nearest bin and buy an anti-smartphone.
As a self-confessed Luddite, and as one who loathes the whole concept of social media, smartphones and the effect they are having on society, particularly on today’s youth who are losing contact with the real world, I refuse to possess one. Instead I own a John’sPhone, which allows one to make and receive calls, and that’s it – no apps, no texting capability, and incoming SMSs disappear magically into thin air – you never see them. Marvellous.
Free from the tyranny of a wretched gadget in my pocket craving attention throughout the day and night, I can enjoy life to the full.  The business of receiving and writing messages, accessing the Internet and so forth, is more conveniently and comfortably done from my computer with its full-size keyboard and decent-sized screen.  When I want to take a photo, I use what’s called a “camera”.
The John’sPhone is no longer available, but a new “anti-smart” product, the LightPhone, is now available from the US. My advice to poor old Ken is this: be smart, go anti-smart, and get your life back.
Nigel Pike
Phang Nga