‘If this isn’t addiction, I don’t know what is’: Light’s founders get real about screen time
Light Phone’s founders discuss their new flip phone, the anti-smartphone backlash, and breaking an addiction to technology.
Intelligence analysis by Llama

Light Phone’s founders, Kaiwei Tang and Joe Hollier, explore the value of simplicity in technology and discuss their new flip phone, the growing anti-smartphone backlash, and what it takes to break an addiction to technology.
Light Phone’s founders, Kaiwei Tang and Joe Hollier, are making a phone that helps people be more mindful of their technology use. They think that people are getting too addicted to their phones and want to make a phone that encourages people to put it down and engage with the world.
Analysis
A Decade of Simplicity in Technology
Light Phone’s founders, Kaiwei Tang and Joe Hollier, have spent over a decade exploring the value of simplicity in our relationship to technology. Their company, Light Phone, has been at the forefront of this movement, partnering with notable figures like Andrew Yang, Kendrick Lamar, and Pete Davidson. Now, with a new flip phone and a growing wave of ‘attention activists’ pushing back against Big Tech, they think the rest of the world is finally catching up to them.
The Anti-Smartphone Backlash
The ‘Summer of Ludd’ attention activist movement is a clear indication that Gen Z is reevaluating its relationship with Big Tech. This movement is not just about rejecting technology, but about seeking a more mindful and intentional approach to it. Light Phone’s founders believe that their new flip phone is a key part of this movement, offering a simpler and more intuitive way to interact with technology.
Breaking an Addiction
But what does it take to break an addiction to technology? According to Light Phone’s founders, it requires a fundamental shift in how we think about technology. They believe that technology should be a tool, not a crutch, and that we should be mindful of how we use it. Their new flip phone is designed to be a more intentional and mindful way to interact with technology, one that encourages users to put down their phones and engage with the world around them.
Key points
- Light Phone’s founders have spent over a decade exploring the value of simplicity in technology.
- Their new flip phone is designed to be a more intentional and mindful way to interact with technology.
- The ‘Summer of Ludd’ attention activist movement is a clear indication that Gen Z is reevaluating its relationship with Big Tech.
- Light Phone’s founders believe that technology should be a tool, not a crutch, and that we should be mindful of how we use it.
If the anti-smartphone backlash continues to grow, it could lead to a fundamental shift in how we think about technology. This could result in a more mindful and intentional approach to technology use, with people prioritizing face-to-face interactions and real-world experiences over screen time.
However, the shift away from smartphones could also lead to a loss of productivity and connectivity. Without the convenience of smartphones, people may struggle to stay connected and up-to-date with the world around them.



