Social Media

Twenty-something years ago, there was no internet access in typical households. When I finished my homework, I often called my friends via the home phone. The phone calls usually lasted 15 to 30 minutes. Then, it was my mother’s turn to speak to her friends for another 15 to 30 minutes. When feature phones started to become popular, many mobile phone service providers offered a promotion plan allowing users to send a certain amount of free SMS messages to others who were using the same service provider. We switched to the same service provider and kept texting each other day and night. There was a limit on the number of words per SMS message. I still remember how much effort we made to make our texts concise. ...

When I’m on the street, at restaurants and on public transport, I often observe people. Based on my observations, most people look down at their mobile phones anytime. They never look up and watch out for someone who almost collides with them. They never stay alert to traffic. They start walking across the street when someone next to them steps forward, no matter whether it is a green light or red. Together with their masks, they look soulless. They seem to consume whatever social platforms push. Why are their little screens so attractive that they would sacrifice everything, including safety? ...