Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution

From benign origins, the relationship between humans and the smartphone has become parasitic, and such a change is not uncommon in nature.

- Rachael L. Brown and Rob Brooks

Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity's companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking invertebrate. It is sleek, glass-fronted and addictive by design. Its host? Every human on Earth with a Wi-Fi signal.

Far from being benign tools, smartphones parasitize our time, our attention and our personal information, all in the interests of technology companies and their advertisers.

In a new article in the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, we argue smartphones pose unique societal risks, which come into sharp focus when viewed through the lens of parasitism.

WHAT, EXACTLY, IS A PARASITE?

Evolutionary biologists define a parasite as a species that benefits from a close relationship with another species — its host — while the host bears a cost.

The head louse, for example, is entirely dependent on our own species for its survival. They eat only human blood, and if they become dislodged from their host, they survive only briefly unless they are fortunate enough to fall onto another human scalp. In return for our blood, head lice give us nothing but a nasty itch; that's the cost.

Smartphones have radically changed our lives. From navigating cities to managing chronic health diseases such as diabetes, these pocket-sized bits of tech make our lives easier. So much so that most of us are rarely without them.

Yet, despite their benefits, many of us are hostage to our phones and slaves to the endless scroll, unable to fully disconnect. Phone users are paying the price with a lack of sleep, weaker offline relationships and mood disorders.

FROM MUTUALISM TO PARASITISM

Not all close species relationships are parasitic. Many organisms that live on or inside us are beneficial.