This Indie Game Simulates Using a Phone

I have a feeling I’m not the only one caught in the cycle of instinctively opening and closing apps, browsing them like virtual store windows just to give myself the sensation of being productive.

There’s this intriguing site, IAIYWOYP, that dives deep into that very notion. It sets up a scenario where you’re merely pretending to use your phone. It periodically sends you prompts and actions to carry out.

Imagine this: raising your eyebrows and then scowling.

You might have to tap circles as they appear, or swipe when instructed, and sometimes you’re even asked to clean your screen.

It’s all orchestrated to create the perfect diversion for any scenario where you want to convince the folks at the next table in a café that you’re not listening in; you’re just deeply engrossed in your phone.

What really struck me, though somewhat unsettlingly, is just how fulfilling these tasks feel. I find delight in double-tapping a pink circle or contemplatively touching my lips. It’s either the whole act of pretending that’s captivating, or maybe this straightforward feedback mirrors exactly what I seek from my phone use. I’m one of those people glued to my phone, yet I’ve got little to show for it except nearly 2,000 wins in Sawayama Solitaire.

If getting hooked on orders from a clever phone game is as gripping as leisurely scrolling through Bluesky, then I have to wonder—what am I really doing here?