A video of a woman swimming laps at Sydney's Bondi Icebergs pool has gone viral, showing her using her phone while in the water. The footage, shared by the meme page Brown Cardigan, captures the woman kicking on her back with a phone held in front of her face, scrolling and later holding it up as if filming or taking a photo.
The video drew strong reactions online, with many calling the behavior “dystopian” and “bleak.” Comments included “this may be the most dystopian thing I’ve ever seen” and “there’s no coming back from where we are as a species.” Others saw humor, calling the woman a “multitasker” or saying “I back it.”
The incident highlights broader concerns about phone addiction. A recent study by Amazon Kindle found that a quarter of Australians receive notifications until 10.42pm, and over half feel frequently distracted. Neuroscientist Dr. Mark Williams explained that notifications trigger dopamine release, leading to compulsive phone checking.
The study also revealed that 78% of Australians check their devices every hour, with some doing so up to 50 times in 60 minutes. Dr. Williams noted that constant distractions train the brain to be in a state of high alert, reducing the ability to focus for extended periods.
