The article critiques social media and smartphones, portraying them as modern afflictions that instill envy, loneliness, and distraction. It argues that users are not merely utilizing these tools but have become subservient to them, sacrificing real-life experiences in favor of constant performance and self-documentation for social validation. This ceaseless cycle of comparison amplifies feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. The author emphasizes the profound effects on attention and solitude, suggesting that these technologies not only distract but also condition people to fear downtime and introspection.
You must savour what you have achieved. A machine that whispers at all hours...They check it first thing upon waking, last thing before sleep.
They no longer live their lives - they document them, for others to judge. Every moment becomes a performance, and every performance a source of anxiety.
With every scroll, they are reminded of what they lack. You've taught them that the lives of others are curated for their misery.
You've destroyed their silence, their solitude, their attention...You've taught them to fear boredom like death itself.
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