The smart phone was probably originally intended for smart people who were supposed to use the phone for talking and getting information quickly and efficiently. Problem is, we gave all the smartphones to dumbpeople. And everyone knows what happens if you give a mouse a muffin. These people find more attention and love in a metal device than anyone ever gave to them, so what is stopping them from hanging around with something that wants them/doesn’t mind if they are around? Smartphones are dangerous if used in the wrong ways – a person could become blind and deaf to the real world, and forget that it exists.
When I first got a smartphone, I told myself that I would never become one of those app-slaves. But it happened anyways. Solitaire sucked me in, amongst other silly games. They weren’t really hurting my neshama, I thought at the time. But they took up so much time that I could have spent doing other things, like studying for a test, spending time with human beings, and helping around the house. It really hit home when a close friend reproached me for constantly being in front of the little screen, and I was worried about the strength of our relationship. I was ignoring my friend, and replacing her with a phone. So, in front of her, (yes, I was crying), I deleted all my games on my phone and kept only the essentials. And I’ve been happy ever since. I now have more time; I’m on close terms with my friend again; I’m not attached to my phone. I can even go places without it!
So yes, it’s hard to stop, once you’ve started. It’s an addiction. Pity the fellow you wrote about. He’s wasting his time and his life. Hashem only gave us so much, and I’m sure He did not intend for us to spend it wastefully.