Flipping Off Phones

Flipping Off Phones

From Galaxy Brain by The Atlantic

May 8, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 27

About this episode

Charlie Warzel and Kaitlyn Tiffany discuss the impact of smartphones on our lives and the experience of switching to a flip phone.

On this week’s episode of “Galaxy Brain,” Charlie Warzel talks with his Atlantic colleague Kaitlyn Tiffany about what our phones are doing to us. Tiffany recently wrote about swapping her iPhone for a flip phone as part of a movement called “Month Offline.” Kaitlyn talks through her personal experience: the joys and inconveniences of a dumbphone and the difficulty of unplugging completely. Warzel and Tiffany talk about the growing smartphone backlash, legal cases against “big tech,” and how, even if many people are convinced that their phones are a problem, the science remains far from conclusive regarding direct harm. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Charlie Warzel

Guest: Kaitlyn Tiffany

Topics covered

  • smartphone backlash
  • dumbphones
  • Month Offline
  • big tech
  • unplugging
  • personal experience

Keywords

  • smartphones
  • flip phone
  • Month Offline
  • big tech
  • unplugging
  • personal experience
  • smartphone backlash

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Atlantic, big tech

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