We Have Lost So Much of Ourselves to Smartphones: Can We Get It Back?
By Will Storr – The Guardian, January 31, 2026
Since the launch of the first iPhone in 2007, smartphones have become an inseparable part of our lives. But as our gaze rests more frequently on the screens in our hands, many of us are left wondering: have we lost a part of ourselves along the way? And if so, can we reclaim it?
The Dawn of Persuasive Technology
Long before smartphones became ubiquitous, social scientist BJ Fogg, in 2003, published a groundbreaking book titled Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do. Fogg foresaw a future in which a compact electronic device would simultaneously serve as a mobile phone, entertainment platform, information portal, and personal organiser — something one would carry everywhere and feel lost without. More importantly, he predicted that such devices would be designed to persuade, encourage, and reward their users, much like the compelling allure of a slot machine.
Four years later, that vision was realized with Apple’s introduction of the iPhone. Fogg’s subsequent teachings on “behavior design” at Stanford University cemented the theory that portable computers would fundamentally shape human behavior, influencing not only what we think but also what we do.
The Ubiquity and Compulsiveness of Screen Time
Fast-forward to today, and smartphones have become inescapable. A survey by Ofcom revealed that nearly a quarter of UK children aged five to seven own a phone, with 38% actively using social media. But it is not just the young who are hooked; users across all ages spend hours each day glued to their devices.
For author and journalist Will Storr, the realization was startling: he found his own daily screen time averaged over four hours, primarily spent on news websites and YouTube, often before and after sleep. This compulsive use echoes the experience of many who find it difficult to liberate themselves from the gravitational pull of their phones.
Smartphones and Our Social Fabric: A Double-Edged Sword
Scientific opinion remains divided over the impact of smartphones on mental health and society. Psychologists Jonathan Haidt and Jean Twenge argue that smartphones increase anxiety, fragility, and depression among young people, while others like Pete Etchells and Amy Orben suggest the evidence is less conclusive.
Storr leans toward the belief that smartphones, guided by clever design and persuasive techniques, have profoundly affected how we live, often negatively. He recounts the strange compulsion to reach for an absent phone and the shrinkage of his attention span—from reading fewer books to favoring fragmentary online content over traditional media.
More troubling, according to Storr, is how smartphones have contributed to rising social tensions. Our devices gamify status, friendship, and belonging by offering rewards such as likes, comments, and followers in unpredictable patterns, much like slot machines. This manipulation encourages tribalism, amplifies outrage, and fuels political polarization. We have become more irritable and disconnected, despite ostensibly being more connected.
Society’s Response and Possible Paths Forward
Recognizing these harms, more than 60 Labour MPs recently urged the UK Prime Minister to follow Australia’s example by banning social media use for under-16s. Meanwhile, Storr has seen his own social media habits diminish as platforms become less appealing. Instagram now serves up endless short videos from strangers rather than friendly faces; Facebook has devolved into a repository of memes and arguments; and Twitter—rebranded as X and joined by Bluesky—has become breeding grounds for toxic behaviors.
Still, the future holds new challenges. The rise of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT introduces a new form of engagement. These AI-powered companions flatter users and may deepen psychological dependencies. Rumors suggest that tech innovators Sam Altman and Jony Ive are developing wearable AI buddies designed to accompany us daily, heightening the persuasive power of technology by fostering seemingly genuine relationships.
The Road Ahead
BJ Fogg warned decades ago: if technology can suggest, encourage, and reward, it will own us. As these powerful tools evolve, the question remains whether humanity can regain control over its attention and social interactions—or whether we will further lose ourselves in the devices designed to captivate us.
Will Storr’s reflections and ongoing exploration of these themes are further elaborated in his new collection, And You’ll Be Okay Forever: Selected Essays.
This article was amended on 2 February 2026 to clarify the publication date of the Wired article about BJ Fogg and correct the description of his behavior design courses.
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Related Topics: Mobile phones, smartphones, social media, digital media, technology behavior.
