A pair of Australian professors is arguing that smartphones meet the criteria of a parasite due to their one-sided relationship with humans. Rachael L. Brown and Rob Brooks claim that while they provide convenience, they now offer little in return and are designed to exploit users’ time, attention, and data.
The companies behind these devices rely on constant user interaction to survive, using psychological tricks to keep people engaged and hooked. This addiction is fueled by the sale of personal data to advertisers, who then use it to manipulate consumers.
To address this issue, Brown and Brooks propose a solution inspired by nature. They point to the cleaner wrasse fish of the Great Barrier Reef, which has a mutually beneficial relationship with larger fish but can become parasitic if it takes too much. The researchers suggest holding companies accountable through government regulation that bans exploitative features and data mining.
The authors argue that restoring balance to this one-sided relationship is necessary to protect users from exploitation. By implementing these regulations, individuals can be freed from the grip of addiction and restore a healthier dynamic between humans and their smartphones.
Source: https://www.vice.com/en/article/your-smartphone-is-a-parasite-and-youre-the-host-say-evolutionary-experts