I've been willfully aware of this strange behavior in recent times while analyzing myself. There is no legitimate reason to even touch the device, but I'll find myself holding it just to hold it. Like the smartphone is now an extension of who I am; an extension of the ability to consume from the environment I perceive.

In personal experimentation, I've noticed simple acts like placing the device on silent, to avoid being made aware of its presence, reduced desires to interact with it a lot. That says to me that the device isn't actually an improvement on my quality of life if I dont miss it when it's gone. Disconnecting seems to slow communication and conversation with others, but I'm not convinced that it's a bad thing at all. Maybe we're moving far too fast for our own good.