August Lamm, an anti-tech advocate and author, explores the journey to building a social world beyond screens in her new book, You Don’t Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading Your Phone and Upgrading Your Life, published by Vintage in 2026. Lamm's experience as a former social media influencer shapes her perspective, emphasizing the potential for deeper connections when we reduce our reliance on digital devices.
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Lamm, who resides in New Haven, Connecticut, shares her transition from a smartphone to a flip phone, offering practical advice such as selecting basic phones and moving away from GPS reliance. Her narrative centers on reclaiming personal agency and time through this downgrade.
In a recent interview, Lamm described her own past struggles with validation through online platforms and her quest to unlearn detrimental habits. Meeting in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, Lamm discussed the challenges of stepping away from technology while recognizing the societal structures that often reinforce smartphone dependency, particularly in areas like banking and travel.
During their conversation, she recounted her struggles growing up with the expectation to share personal experiences online and the shift to realizing the importance of in-person interactions. This understanding has broadened her view of social engagement, helping her to connect without the aid of a smartphone. Lamm now hopes to inspire a cultural shift where knowing someone with a basic phone becomes more commonplace.
She also critiqued top-down policies aimed at restricting young people's access to social media, arguing that they often miss the complexities of ingrained social behaviors. Reflecting on her participation in discussions around smartphone use in schools, Lamm revealed her frustrations at meetings that lacked representation from younger activists.
On the topic of her upcoming artist residency in Upstate New York, she noted that her anti-tech activism seeks to foster a vibrant arts culture free from digital distractions. As she prepares for the book's release, Lamm plans to quit email entirely, marking a significant commitment to her low-tech lifestyle, as a way to deepen her engagement with the artwork and community around her.
Lamm is known for her writing in major publications like The New York Times and The Guardian and has spoken on platforms such as NBC and NPR about low-tech living. You Don’t Need a Smartphone seeks to empower readers to reconsider their digital habits and explore the benefits of a simpler, more connected existence.