Smartphones Have Become Parasites That Exploit Users’ Time and Data, Accordign to Australasian Journal of Philosophy

Smartphones, once useful mutual tools, now act like parasites by extracting users' attention, data, and time for tech companies and advertisers, according to a new philosophy paper. The authors argue that addictive app designs and opaque data practices tilt the human-smartphone relationship from mutualism to exploitation. Because individual users are outmatched by tech firms’ data and design power, systemic interventions are needed to restore balance. Policy actions like Australia’s under-age social media ban show the kind of collective response required.