FRIEND OR FOE-NE by Joella Marcus What is one thing you always have on hand? Let me guess, it’s your phone. In today’s world our phones have almost become an extension of ourselves, glued to our hands and never leaving our sides. We take them everywhere. We remain constantly connected, in-touch and accessible. This personal networking device ensures that a whole other world remains just a click away. The (arguable) overindulgence into this virtual reality, creates new levels of dependence, causing us to question just how far we’ve strayed from the intended purpose of phones. The average person’s daily screen time often clocks in between eight to 10 hours — almost a third of each day is spent absorbed in a digital void, created by a temporary cyber landscape. Consider this: imagine you saw the same friend consistently for eight hours a day, wouldn’t you get sick of them eventually? Get to know them a little too well? It could even get a little toxic? As we progress further into the digital unknown, our phones have become a little bit like that obsessive toxic friend.
OFFHAND
Why Foe-nes SUCK ... (sometimes) 1. They are needy as hell. Um hello? 24/7 notifications. 2. They isolate you — I mean how many times have you dazed out of reality to be with them and check on them? 3. They constantly talk about you, behind your back. Who gave them the right to strip your privacy and give all your info to their best friend Facebook, huh? 4. They attempt to control you and change you all the time through their scheming systems and stupid ‘personalised’ experiences, acting like they know you that well. 5. They lack all kinds of empathy. Were they there for you when you called your ex and ordered UberEats for the seventh time this week? Didn’t think so. Look at it through rose-coloured glasses and it could be a Serena and Blair situation, but before you know it, you’ll have your own little enemy glued to your hip. But hey, I guess keep your friend close and your enemies closer. Watch your back babes x
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