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LIFE
Unread, Unavailable and Unbothered
Social media addiction isn’t just about us — it’s about the people around us
There I was, in the middle of the tropical paradise enjoying a hike soaked in humidity, when a hiker passed by with music blasting on his phone. I get it. He’s probably afraid of being alone and the music keeps him company. But it also means he is a twat, killing the vibe for others and disrupting nature’s harmony. There are thousands of significant sounds coming from all directions thanks to the wildlife. We’re talking mating calls, birdsongs, and communication between species. I didn’t travel and hike for hours to listen to manufactured top 40 hits. Yet here we are.
In 1984, Freddie Mercury, alongside Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor, was in drag vacuuming the living room as he sang the following:
I want to break free, I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You’re so self-satisfied I don’t need you
I’ve got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free — Queen,
Mercury was on to something. Who knew I’d be spewing the same words to my smartphone in 2025?
Back in the wild, this wasn’t just an intrusion on my hike. It reminded me of how people — whether they know it or…
