They could have written the title as "How smartphone using idiots let themselves be drawn into mobile addiction machines" but that would be too close to the truth and scare people off. For my 2c i think the reality is people want to avoid their issues instead of solving them, and that is a basic human trait. So they dive into tech solutions mobile and web and desktop for gratification, importance, friendship, and so on because some clever people figured out how to take advantage of human weaknesses and embed that in software.

Am i cynical? Not at all. I just observe people using systems and their inability to walk away with a sense of ease. Any habitual consumption is bad - only aware consumption is good, regardless of what you are consuming.

Now, if someone could just write an app that redirected every social media tool on the planet to the home page of HN we could at least start opening some minds.

Signed #grumpyoldhackerinasia