Let phones serve us and not vice versa

During the Covid-19 lockdown, I watched Disconnect (2012), a suspense thriller about strangers whose lives unravel through digital dependency. The film’s haunting message — “We’re all more connected than ever, yet feel alone” — struck me as I scrolled through endless pandemic-era Zoom calls and grocery delivery apps. Little did I know that years later, its warning would mirror my own reality in the Sultanate of Oman: A world where smartphones promise connection but threaten to sever our autonomy when they fail.

Digital paralysis — the helplessness of losing smartphone access — is no longer fiction. As a Gen X professional in Muscat, with a high average of around 7 hours screen time daily, I learned this the hard way when my updating a number of main apps on my phone was taking longer than expected last month. Suddenly, I couldn’t make mobile payments bills, hail a ride, or recall my own contacts. Like the characters in Disconnect, I felt the chilling void of being untethered from the tool that had quietly become my lifeline.

Globally, 65 per cent of smartphone users report anxiety when separated from their devices (Deloitte, 2023). In Oman, where smartphone penetration hits 95 per cent, this dependency is acute. Apps like Otaxi-Yango, Talabat, Thawani and Bank Muscat streamline life but deepen vulnerability. A 2022 survey by Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) found that 58 per cent of Gen X (ages 40–55) feel “moderate to high stress” when navigating new apps, compared to 22 per cent of those under 30. We’re caught between two worlds: old enough to remember landlines but compelled to embrace AI-driven futures.

Ironically, the pandemic accelerated this shift. Lockdowns normalised app-based living, and Oman Vision 2040 now prioritises digitising healthcare, education and commerce. Yet, progress has a hidden cost. A 2023 World Bank study warns that poor tech adaptation among older adults could cost Oman’s economy $300 million annually in lost productivity — a silent drain on national ambitions.

Disconnect’s plot revolves around a hacker who exploits digital naivety, leaving victims scrambling to reclaim their lives. The parallel to Oman’s Gen X is uncanny: We’re targets of phishing scams, overwhelmed by app updates, and often unaware of privacy settings. A 2023 cybersecurity report by Oman CERT revealed that 43 per cent of Gen X respondents had shared sensitive data accidentally, compared to 17 per cent of millennials. Without digital literacy, convenience becomes a trap.

But the film’s deeper lesson is psychological. One character, a journalist addicted to online validation, loses her job after a social media mishap. Another, a bullied teen, seeks solace in virtual friendships with tragic consequences. Their stories echo findings in Nature Human Behaviour (2022): excessive screen time reduces empathy and critical thinking — skills Gen X honed in pre-digital workplaces. As Oman pushes tech innovation, preserving these human strengths is vital.

Breaking free from digital paralysis requires strategy, not surrender. First, curate, don’t accumulate. Focus on mastering essential apps (e.g., government services, banking) rather than every trend. Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology offers free workshops — leveraging these can ease the learning curve. Second, schedule “analogue hours” daily. During lockdown, I replaced evening scrolling with jogging along the beach; rebuilding offline habits fosters resilience.

Intergenerational collaboration is equally key. Millennials and Gen Z can mentor older colleagues on apps, while Gen X can share risk management skills honed in less automated eras. Apps themselves must adapt: Simplified interfaces, Arabic-language tutorials and “emergency access” features (e.g., backup codes for banking apps) would empower users. Malaeb, an Omani sports platform, recently introduced an “Easy Mode” for older adults — a model worth replicating.

Technology should expand choices, not limit them. Oman Vision 2040 envisions a digitally agile society, but agility requires balance. As Disconnect’s director, Henry-Alex Rubin, noted: “Technology isn’t the villain — it’s how we use it.” Let’s build a future where smartphones serve us, not the other way around. After all, the greatest connections — like those weathered stones on Salalah’s ancient port — endure even when the lights go out.