The Promise of Smartphones

The promise of a smartphone is beautiful, one device that you can take anywhere and use to connect with anyone or learn anything. So what happened? The simple truth of smartphones is that they work too well. They are too convenient and too engaging. The smartest minds in the world used them to hijack our basest needs and desires for profit. 

But now they’re here, and we can’t, or refuse to, get rid of them. The benefits they come with are too great. The ability to FaceTime a loved on on the other side of the world is a gift. Being able to listed to any song ever made at the push of a button is a marvel. We don’t need directions for travel or recipe books ever again.

Smart phones promised to connect us to the world and the wealth of human knowledge. But the reality became outsourcing human connection to companies who profit from us staying disconnected, and knowledge to inhuman algorithms designed not to keep us informed but to keep us engaged for as long as possible. 

App blockers and time limiters don’t work. Freedom, Opal, Brainrot, and the rest all seem so promising. Just block the apps that are stealing your time and focus. I’ve tried them and so have you. Why don’t they work? The smartphone was designed for one thing, reducing friction. These programs are designed to create friction. Creating as little of a barrier as possible between you and your next dopamine hit. It’s reason phones unlock with facial recognition, you don’t need to even enter a password. Friction in the reason Amazon has one click purchases, no need to enter payment and shipping info. The reason short form video content needs a light swipe of the finger, it’s an automatic action that requires no thought or effort. And you can’t solve your phone problem by increasing friction on a device who was designed by the greatest minds in the world to reduce friction.

Smart phones do not facilitate human connection, they eliminate friction between us and our basest impulses. Everything that is wonderful about human life is reduced to a shallow 2D facsimile to satisfy our urges but not our true needs.

Followers intend of friends. Porn instead of sex. Gambling instead of rewarding work. Swiping instead of forming romantic bonds. Algorithms instead of critical thinking.  All feel close to the real thing, but leave us feeling empty and unsatisfied.