The Impact of Smartphones on Human Behaviour
This photomontage is a comment on modern phone use—especially how it absorbs attention and reshapes behaviour.
The two young men standing upright are both completely focused on their smartphones. They’re isolated against a dark, almost empty background, which strips away context and makes their posture and gaze the main focus. Neither is engaging with the other or their surroundings; their attention is entirely captured by their screens.
In contrast, the foreground shows a much larger, close-up pair of hands gripping a phone horizontally (thanks to Hazuan Hashim). I wanted the hands to dominate the frame, almost like they represent a more powerful force. It feels less like a person holding a device and more like the device controlling the person. The large hands imply that users are being “handled” or controlled by their devices or by the digital environments inside them.
The figures are physically present but mentally elsewhere. There’s no interaction between them, hinting at social isolation despite proximity.
Perhaps smartphones aren’t just tools we use—they can dominate our attention, isolate us from others, and subtly control how we behave. I wanted the muted tones and dark background to create an ominous mood, reinforcing the idea that this isn’t just neutral technology use but something potentially all consuming and problematic.
Perhaps smartphones aren’t just tools we use—they can dominate our attention, isolate us from others, and subtly control how we behave.
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