PERTH, AUSTRALIA / RankWire.AI / – As concerns grow about the pervasive presence of smartphones in daily life, researchers are exploring various methods people use to distance themselves from these devices. Edith Cowan University researcher Dr Jess Hardley has dedicated over ten years to studying changing phone habits among Australian users. Her recent research investigates wall-mounted smartphone docks, classic-style handsets, and other tools designed to limit constant access. The study also looks into everyday strategies individuals adopt to make their devices less instantly accessible.
Hardley observed practices such as leaving phones in separate rooms or locking them inside drawers. Some participants switch their screens to greyscale or impose restrictions on specific apps. For example, one person stored a phone in a work drawer after mobile gaming started to interfere with their focus. While these actions differ in approach, they share a common feature: each creates either a physical or digital barrier between the user and the device during certain times of the day.
The research also explores accessories that make smartphones operate more like traditional landline phones. Wall-mounted docks can fix a device in one location instead of carrying it in a pocket or holding it in hand. Some connected handsets resemble older home telephones, featuring designs with coiled cords. Hardley examined these products alongside trends such as phone-free gatherings and locking pouches used at concerts. The research does not claim that these products enhance health, attention, or wellbeing.
Various approaches to distancing from smartphones
Hardley’s study discusses how mobile phones evolved from portable communication tools into devices used extensively throughout daily routines. Modern smartphones now integrate messaging, entertainment, payments, photography, navigation, work functions, and internet access. Her research focuses on the implications when users intentionally make these devices less accessible. Physical separation is highlighted as one strategy for altering smartphone habits, along with restrictions implemented in homes, workplaces, social events, and shared environments.
The study, titled Revisiting the ‘Snug Tether’: Smartphones in an Era of Scroll-Free Social Events, Landline Accessories, and Device Bans, was published in M/C Journal and revisits earlier research on the close connection between users and their mobile phones. The latest findings examine the use of phone jails, scroll-free social settings, retro accessories, and device restrictions. Edith Cowan University states that the research reflects practices aimed at breaking the constant proximity often linked to smartphone use.
Public settings also see the application of phone restrictions
In Australia, restrictions on smartphone use have been introduced in public schools. Starting Term 1 of 2024, all public schools are set to ban or limit mobile phones, as agreed upon by education ministers. Following the implementation of these rules, federal education officials referenced a survey conducted in New South Wales involving nearly 1,000 principals. The government reported that 87% of respondents observed fewer distractions in classrooms, and 81% noted improvements in learning outcomes since the restrictions began.
Hardley’s research continues to focus on how individuals handle smartphones, given their central role in daily routines. It highlights methods such as physical separation, decreased accessibility, and the adoption of phone-free environments. Retro handsets and wall-mounted docks are part of this broader set of practices. Edith Cowan University issued a summary of these findings on Aug. 18, 2026, contributing new insights to ongoing investigations into smartphone habits and digital behavior.