Sometimes I catch myself mindlessly flicking through apps, as if browsing through digital shop windows just to feel occupied. It’s a habit I suspect many others share.
There’s this intriguing online experience called IAIYWOYP that essentially creates the illusion of being engrossed in your phone. It cleverly issues random commands and tasks to perform, like expanding your eyes wide and then pulling a frowning face.
You engage by tapping on circles as they appear, swiping whenever prompted, and occasionally even wiping your screen clean. All these actions blend into a perfect little routine, perfect for convincing those sitting nearby at a restaurant that your attention is solely on your screen and not on their conversation.
What strikes me as both fascinating and slightly unsettling is how oddly fulfilling this is. There’s something strangely gratifying about double-tapping a pink circle or thoughtfully placing my fingers on my lips. Perhaps it’s the theatrical aspect of it, or maybe this simple interaction mirrors the real allure I derive from using my phone. As someone who uses their phone compulsively, I’ve not much else to show for it beyond nearly 2,000 wins in Sawayama Solitaire.
When a quirky phone game can capture my attention as much as scrolling through Bluesky can, it makes me wonder—what exactly am I accomplishing here?
