The constant expectation of being reachable and the reliance on our phones for the simplest things, like navigating our own neighborhoods, has made venturing out without them feel almost unsettling. Remember when portable mini-computers were a fun novelty? You could actually step away and disconnect, which, ironically, made both the digital and real worlds more enjoyable. Now, walking through New York or riding the subway, it’s hard not to notice the sea of bent necks and phones clutched like lifelines.
The ever-growing influence of consumerism and capitalism is definitely taking its toll, and we’ve adapted in some interesting ways. We’ve become experts at tuning out the relentless barrage of ads on billboards, websites, even the sides of cars and within apps – it’s practically ingrained in us to be constantly sold to. And with everyone seemingly a content creator (or expected to be), the digital marketplace is overflowing with imitators all vying for quick cash through questionable sponsorships.
There’s just so much - too much - to consume that it’s all starting to feel like one big, bland blur. I deleted Instagram from my phone to reclaim some time, and even YouTube’s offerings are starting to feel uninspired. It’s gotten to the point where we often spend more time searching for something to watch than actually watching it – Netflix is a prime example. Media companies seem to have shifted from creating truly “good” content to just “good enough.” Now, the second screen has become the new TV, and we need that background noise (hello, Emily in Paris) while we’re glued to our primary screens – our phones.
It’s not just me either; I’ve heard similar sentiments from friends, family, and colleagues – this shift in energy is definitely palpable. I can’t help but wonder how society will course-correct, and whether this change will continue to be driven by individual choices, as it largely is now, or if government and private organizations will step in with regulations to safeguard users.