[MZ Column] The Era When Smartphones Suck Life Away

[Asia Economy] When we think of the people around us, it is not difficult to categorize them as introverted or extroverted. Those who enjoy playing alone at home and immersing themselves in solitary activities are clearly distinguishable from those who like meeting others and actively working and socializing.

However, this era strangely seems to be producing more ‘introverted people.’ While the aftermath of COVID-19 and social distancing plays a part, the influence of smartphones is enormous. In the past, our brains experienced pleasure and released dopamine when meeting people, but now, just having a smartphone can provide pleasure all day long.

The algorithms of various video platforms make it almost impossible for us to get up from our seats. When watching recent online video services (OTT) platforms like Netflix, if left idle, the ‘next episode’ plays endlessly. If you miss the timing, you end up watching the next episode as if addicted. Various social networking services (SNS) keep ringing ‘red notifications’ all day, taking control of our brain’s reward system. Those red notifications stimulate dopamine release like strawberries discovered by primitive humans, making us constantly pay attention to them. Even extroverted people tend to focus more on online relationships rather than actively meeting people. In a way, everyone is becoming a homebody in this era.

Demand for travel or fancy cafes still overflows, but this too has become a matter of how impressive a photo one can take and upload to the smartphone world. Even when traveling, rather than actively enjoying the trip, many spend time taking numerous photos to capture the ‘perfect shot’ and then sit in a cafe choosing one from hundreds of pictures. Our minds are converging toward the smartphone itself.

There is a meme about ‘introverted people’ that gained great sympathy in online communities. It appears in an Instagram cartoon where a character happily reacts when a planned meeting is canceled while getting ready to go out.

Meeting friends can bring some joy, but preparing and going to the meeting place is cumbersome. However, the smartphone, right in our hands, offers even greater entertainment. As soon as the meeting is canceled, the character throws off their clothes, lies down at home, and turns on the smartphone, gaining more immediate satisfaction in the brain. Our entire era might be conditioned by such brain reward systems.

Of course, even in this era, there are pleasures, connections, and comforts of its own kind. The world outside the smartphone is not necessarily superior to the world inside it. But at least when an era pushes our lifestyle in one direction, it is necessary to have agency over it. We need to judge for ourselves whether this is the life we truly want and who we really are, or if we are living a life manipulated by the massive systems created by various media and corporations.

I am also a modern person dominated by smartphones and algorithms. Perhaps because of this, I sometimes feel a deep sense of stability and salvation when I am free from them. Moments like putting the smartphone aside to play with my child for hours, quietly turning pages late at night, or sitting face-to-face exchanging eye contact and voices with someone I love. The key to a good life in our era might depend on how many such moments we secure.

Jung Ji-woo, Cultural Critic and Lawyer

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.