Digital Dumbing Guide

Allowed Apps and Use Cases

• WA: Personal Chat
• WA Calls Screen, Chats Screen, WhatsApp Calls
• Dialers
• Clock Apps
• VLC
• Gallery Apps
• Voice Recorders
• Settings
• Calculator Apps
• File Managers
• PDF Viewers
• Keyboards
• Note Takers
• Authenticators
• File Sharing Apps
• Dictionaries and Thesaurus
• SMS Apps
• Translation Tools
• Calendars (For notifications)
• Tasbih Apps (Only if Tasbeeh not available)
• Prayer Apps
• Password Managers (Only when strictly required)
• Backup and Sync Apps (Set up to sync automatically)
• VPNs (Only when required)
• Banking Apps (Only when cash option is not available)
• Ride Hailing Apps (Only if someone else is not available and only if non-ride option is mandatory)
• Camera (Only for select captures)
• Obsidian (Viewing mostly)
• Maps (if laptop not in easy access)
• Meeting Tools (if laptop not in easy access)
• Remote Access Apps (if laptop not in easy access)
• Brave (if laptop not in easy access)

Digital Dumbing SOPs

• Phone stays in a bag, not a pocket.
• No Opening of Entertainment feeds.
• Keep the screen in Black & White (BnW)
• Prefer audio/text over images/videos.
• Internet is off by default. Treat the phone like an "Eritrean Internet Cafe" with strictly scheduled online windows.
• Use physical cash; use paper notepads for notes; take directions from people, not GPS. Ask people for internet searches or have someone else order your Uber to avoid opening the app yourself.
• Treat non-urgent texts like physical mail, to be answered in batches, not immediately. Answer them once a week.
• Define "Office Timings" and "Social Timings." Only access the browser during these specific windows.
  • Planning time is offline, right before office time. Transfer Calendar and Task items to paper for the day's use.
  • Sync apps only once a day during Social time; list and batch personal online tasks to avoid "quick checks" turning into rabbit holes. Check messages only during this time.
  • Call instead of texting; tell people you will call them back rather than chatting all day. Call them during that social time.
• Stay in the moment; remember that device-free entertainment is always superior.
• Don't use the 15 minute detox timer when you don't have to.
• Don't use western LLMs for personal chats
• Laptop does not leave its dedicated place; keep it at the office or a specific home desk. (paused)
• Use Phone Call Feature as a Wired Phone that is placed in a room. (For future)
• Have someone call someone for you, save a list of important contacts or memorize them. (For future)
• Ask someone to capture videos/pics and WhatsApp or email you. (For future)
• Listen to live lectures and live nasheeds and videos on laptop. (For future)
• Ride priority: bicycle > walk + bus > walk + hitchhike > motorcycle > ride hailing service. (For future)
• Refrain from electricity. (For future)
• No VLC in for video (For future)