It is as if you were on your phone

Overall reception & emotional impact

• Strong polarized reactions: some “hated” it within seconds yet saw that as evidence it succeeded artistically; others found it relaxing, darkly funny, and even meditative.
• Several described it as painfully boring, repetitive, or anxiety‑inducing (“early internet screamer vibes”), while others praised its humor (“jiggle one leg”, “scratch your ear”) and subtle commentary.
• A few said they loved it but also felt uneasy at how accurately it mirrored their real behavior.

Smartphones, attention, and social pressure

• Many comments connect the piece to real-life pressure to be on a phone in public (bus, doctor’s office, eating alone) just to look occupied or avoid awkwardness.
• Some see this as sad evidence of declining social skills; others note that similar “do not disturb” props existed before (newspapers, Walkman, books).
• There’s disagreement over whether this pressure is real or overblown; some express pity or frustration at the idea of feeling compelled to stare at a screen.
• Several resolve to read more physical books or recall positive experiences going without a smartphone.

Experience design, usability, and platform issues

• Many were confused by the “Swipe Right” image that doesn’t start the experience; they expected it to be interactive, especially on mobile.
• Some criticize this as an unnecessary “screen 1” that loses users, while others say the misleading instruction is itself a commentary on modern UI.
• Reports of platform problems (Firefox/Android/iOS) and disappointment it’s not installable as a PWA.

Related works & comparisons

• Linked works by the same creator (“doing work”, “making love”) sparked similar reactions: funny, nightmarish, accurate parodies of office life and intimacy.
• Comparisons were made to the “Zen TV Experiment” and rhythm games (Elite Beat Agents, osu!).

Proposed extensions and uses

• Suggestions: make it more boring, add performance metrics, include “close your eyes” as instant meditation, or synchronize many players in public as a silent coordinated protest.
• Some joke about robots or socially anxious humans using it to blend in, or running it on non-phone devices (mechanical tape, desktop).