Have We Gone Out of Our Depth?
An Australian woman has stirred up quite a bit of conversation online after a video surfaced showing her scrolling through her phone while swimming laps in a pool. Many are now questioning if our collective obsession with technology has gone too far.
This clip, shared by the Instagram account @browncardigan, begins with a serene view of swimmers enjoying Sydney’s beautiful Bondi Icebergs Pool. But soon, the focus shifts to a particular swimmer who is seen navigating the backstroke while engrossed in her device.
The footage wraps up with her holding the phone above her—perhaps taking a video or a selfie as she swims.
In the caption, the post quips, “It’s nice to see people being in the moment, making the most of their screen time, never going online, and oversharing every moment of their lives.” This sarcastic tone captures a general sentiment growing among viewers, who feel that our fixation on smartphones has reached a breaking point.
Commenters quickly chimed in, echoing these concerns. One viewer pointed out: “This might be the most dystopian thing I’ve ever seen,” while another lamented that humanity has crossed a line from which it can’t return. A third user exclaimed, “The world has gone crazy! Put down your phone, stop existing only online and live in the real world!”
Witty responses also emerged, such as “POV: You’re obsessed with your phone, but you’re also obsessed with the beach life.” It seems, however, that underwater smartphone sessions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to global technology addiction.
Data from addictionhelp.com indicates that around 250 million people are grappling with social media addiction. This trend isn’t just concerning as it relates to technology usage; it also comes with a slew of negative side effects. Issues like depression, social isolation, mood swings, disrupted sleep patterns, and a general disregard for obligations often accompany it.
Young individuals are particularly vulnerable. A study published recently in the journal Pediatrics found that kids who have cell phones before turning 12 tend to experience higher rates of depression, obesity, and poor sleep compared to their peers without phones.
