5 Famous Influencers Who Avoid Smartphones to Escape the Age of Distraction

The digital era - also known as the age of distraction. Where each and every moment is bombarded with tons of information. The cheap or almost free information required time to synthesise in order to convert it into knowledge and later wisdom. The fast-paced world brings a scarcity of synthesising information or thinking. Which is why a surprising number of high-profile thinkers, creators and tech founders today intentionally avoid using smartphones. Their reason, they want to protect their attention, privacy and creativity from the endless distractions.


In the world of filmmaking, his name required no introduction. The director of all-time hit movies like Inception, Dunkirk, Oppenheimer, etc., said he doesn't carry a smartphone and even avoids email personally. To write, he uses a computer that is not connected to the internet. It helps to reduce distraction and protect his creative focus. In an interview, he said, "People will say, 'Why do you work in secrecy? Well, it's not secrecy, it's privacy. It's being able to try things, to make mistakes, to be as adventurous as possible. And to be able to sit with somebody who's just read what you've written and get their take on it, see how they connect with it in a very human, face-to-face way."

Historian, professor of Hebrew University and bestselling author of Sepience, Yuval Noah Harari has described long stretches without a smartphone. However, he uses technology only for essential tasks. He gives importance to conserving attention and warns people that modern devices are explicitly designed to capture minds.

The founder of the application Telegram and famous for his stoic mindset and discipline, has recently publicly described avoiding the use of mobile phones for a long time, which keeps his morning healthy. He does not even carry an active SIM or use a digital device in the same way most people do said in the Lex Fridman podcast. For his incredible discipline and action a user commented, "Maybe Durov is Bruce Wayne in real life?."


Global pop star Ed Sheeran has said he hasn't had a smartphone since 2015 and primarily use an iPad to preserve mental space and creativity. He express how ditching a mobile phone helped him to overcome the feeling of overwhelm and allowed him to be less plugged in.


One of India’s most respected actors and filmmakers of Bollywood has publicly stated about his break from the use of mobile phone as a part of self imposed "Communication Detox." Even at a point in his life, he chose to stay completely offline, even avoiding email and cell phone contacts, so that he could devote his full attention to creative work and ensure minimal distraction.

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Q1. What did Einstein say about cell phones?
Ans: I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots.

Q2. Does Stephen King own a cell phone?
Ans: No, he does not own a cell phone.

Q3. Did Nikola Tesla predict smartphones?
Ans: Referring to the communication device, he said, "A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket.