We were not designed to spend hours hunched over a screen

If you’re reading this article on your smartphone, perhaps you should glance away now.

It’s hard to overstate the benefits of the technological revolution that has allowed us to go shopping, watch a film and communicate with friends and strangers on a device held in the palm of our hand. But for all the technical brilliance that has made the personal device indispensable in the modern world, there is a glaring flaw in the technology – us.

The news that the unnatural posture demanded by excessive use of smartphones and tablets is leading to spinal problems in children should come as little surprise. The anatomy of the modern human being is the product of millions of years of evolution designed to master the many physical tasks vital to our ancestors' existence. What we were not designed to do was to spend hours each day with heads bowed and shoulders hunched, yet "tech neck" is the defining posture of our times. In cafes, cars and cinemas, we sit in isolation, staring at the virtual world in our hands while the actual world passes by virtually unnoticed. In malls, we walk with heads bowed, a hazard to our fellow smartphone zombies. On busy streets, oblivious to the world around us, we risk our lives by straying into the path of speeding cars.

We cannot, of course, turn back the clock – this technological genie is well and truly out of the bottle. But if we are to prevent a generation of young screen addicts growing up with a range of entirely avoidable physical problems, we must ensure the benefits of the small screen are not outweighed by the harms. Parents have a responsibility to limit the time their children spend online and must set an example by setting aside their own devices during family time. Tablets are now an indispensable part of education but schools must think carefully about how much time they are asking pupils to spend on them. The Road to Homo Sapiens, an illustration first published in 1965, depicted the stages of 20 million years of human evolution. To that familiar trope we are in danger of adding the silhouette of a stooped, evolutionary throwback, gazing not to the future but downwards.

Match info

Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Living in...

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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Miss Granny

Director: Joyce Bernal

Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa

3/5

(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)