Readers reply: If I get a dumbphone, how will I cope in a smartphone world?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

• This week’s question: Why is sugar-free tonic water always described as ‘slimline’?

I’m thinking of getting a dumbphone, because there are more and more things I don’t like about smartphones and how they work. But I’m worried about how I’ll manage. Yes, it seems silly, but I’ve grown to rely on the tech, and so many amenities of modern life depend on it as well (banking, transport, shopping, to name just a few). I’m concerned that I won’t be able to get around as easily, or find crucial information. Plus, there’s the social side. My friends don’t like getting phone calls. How can I transition to a lower-tech lifestyle without making my life drastically more difficult? Tiffany, Cambridge

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