Lid closed!

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My very first job after university was at a large, vibrant telecommunications company. I worked in business marketing, where the goal was to sell as many SIM cards as possible, close lucrative deals, and challenge the dominant market leader. It was the era of Motorola flip phones—small was the gold standard. My boss at the time often talked about the latest trends and developments.

One day, he said something that made me pause: Phones, he claimed, would soon get bigger again. Huge screens. People wouldn’t just use them for calls anymore; they’d watch TV, take photos, listen to music—the possibilities were endless. For businesses, too, it would be revolutionary. Imagine, he said, a world where people always carried their devices, where phones would replace wallets, cameras, and iPods.

I remember my immediate reaction: Bullshit. That’s exactly what I thought. No way would we ever let ourselves be controlled like that. After all, we have free will, don’t we?

A few years later, in my second job as a management consultant, I worked on the innovation strategy for an even larger international telecommunications giant. That’s when I realized: Trends don’t happen by chance. They are carefully planned. My belief that phones would stay small and practical was naïve. The market evolved—exactly as intended—towards smartphones and data. And we, as consumers, happily went along for the ride, unaware of the destination.

Customer data became the new gold. Ads were personalized, delivered in real-time. Everything revolved around offering us the best deal. Yet somehow, we ended up in an endless cycle of consumption. We wanted more and more, without ever questioning why.

From Free Will to Invisible Control

Today, many years later, smartphones are an inseparable part of our lives. Grabbing our phones has become second nature. They are no longer just tools but constant companions that influence us in countless ways—rarely for our well-being.

On social media, we compare ourselves relentlessly, feeling dissatisfied and filling emotional voids with consumption. We crave things before we even realize we do, hoping to feel more like others. And while we believe we’re making free choices, opinions are being shaped, elections influenced, relationships formed—all quietly, subtly, unnoticed.

Dangerous.

That’s how I see it, especially when I notice how hard it is for me to put my phone down. It’s such an easy escape: a quick scroll, a few likes—and suddenly, the day feels a bit brighter.

Dangerous.

Because it’s no longer a conscious decision but an unconscious addiction, steering and influencing us without our awareness.

A New Generation of Self-Determination?

In Australia, there’s a proposal to ban social media for anyone under 16. As much as I advocate for self-determination—especially for children and teenagers—I can’t help but wonder: Could this be a good idea? Could it give young people the chance to solidify their self-image before comparing it to the unrealistic, retouched pictures on social media?

When will we start making choices again from our own inner power?

I once lived almost a year without a phone. During my 11-month journey around the world, there were many places in Africa with no reception. We had no choice but to be in the moment. I’ve experienced how quiet the mind can become. I know the difference.

I’m not saying everyone should live without a phone. But I wish for more awareness. That we start making decisions again—consciously, freely, and not manipulated.