Main image of article This Week-Long Contest Will Pay You $1,000 to Ditch Your Smartphone

The iPhone was revolutionary when it launched, and remains a pinnacle of smartphone hardware. But it also threatens sensory overload. In a mish-mash of publicity stunt and interesting social experimentation, one company is offering a lucky someone $1,000 to ditch their smartphone for a week.

Frontier Bundles will straight-up send you a flip phone to use for that week, then give you $1,000 to tell them what you thought. It writes: “Our ideal candidate (and our lucky winner) will be a self-proclaimed smartphone fiend who’s always up to date on the latest tech news. They’ll be organized, detail-oriented, and willing to persevere (through a smartphone-less week).” That’s probably you.

Interestingly enough, the company adds: “Bonus points go to applicants who have an active social presence or are willing to vlog their experience,” without acknowledging those folk likely access social media via a smartphone and may even use their smartphone camera to vlog. RIP logic.

But that’s not all! In addition to the cool grand you’ll earn to ditch your smartphone, Frontier Bundles also wants to give you the following:

  • Boredom Buster Swag Bag (i.e. your survival kit) including an actual, physical map (yes, those still exist!) to make up for your GPS, a pocket phonebook (because who memorizes numbers anymore), a notepad and pen to make grocery trips a little less painful, and a couple of ’90s CDs (think Britney and NSYNC) to soothe your Spotify withdrawals.
  • Remote work environment as you earn your $1,000—no heading to an office at 8am for this job!
  • No drug testing or background check required.
  • A unique social experiment and a chance to go back in time . . . or, well, something like that.

A few thoughts. First, flip phones can store contacts just like smartphones, so you can toss that pocket phonebook in a fire. Second, nothing can make grocery shopping less painful except Instacart – which you’re giving up. Third, who gives away CDs and no CD player?

(Those are vlog idea-starters. You’re welcome.)

It’s nice that no drug test is required, because we assume if you’re willing to give up the bulk of your smartphone-derived conveniences, you are on some peyote-induced spirit quest. Please save “911” in your flip phone contacts.

We don’t normally endorse non-tech solutions, because we like our readers, but you know – why not with this one. You can basically take a week off from the FOMO of social media and the tedium of keeping up with iMessage chats, and the flip phone is a built in excuse. It’s a win-win, with $1,000 as a sweetener.