Video Of Toddler Mistaking Food For Phone Has Anand Mahindra's Attention

Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, often encourages the use of technology. However, the industrialist has time and again cautioned people against getting addicted to one’s mobile phone. Recently, he shared a video that showed a toddler picking up a dish from the plate and instead of eating it; the baby puts it near his ear as if it’s a phone. The people in the video break into laughter at the toddler’s actions. While sharing this undated clip, Mahindra wrote, “Oh no, no, no….It’s true. Our species has irreversibly mutated..It’s now PHONE, and only AFTER that Roti, Kapda aur Makaan…!”

This post got over 11,000 likes. Commenting on it, an Instagram user wrote, “Not good. Recent research has confirmed that our attention span has reduced to just 8 seconds. In the company of machines we too are becoming mechanical and insensitive. If we don’t use technology to our advantage it will use to its advantage and that’s what is happening nowadays. Smartphone cos and internet service are thriving.”

Another stated, “The evolving priorities where phones seem to take precedence before basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter are indeed a reflection of the changing dynamics in our society. The impact of technology on our lives continues to reshape traditional values and necessities.”

Interestingly a few other people noted that the child might just be imitating the adults around him. Making this point, an Instagram user commented, “Children of this age hardly put the phone over their ear; mostly they watch the screen. This kid put it over their ear; means the kid was not used to playing with the phone but was used to watching adults talk over the phone. Hence, this is not a case of “phone addiction” but of ‘imitation’.”

Another asserted, “Although smartphone addiction is a problem, this video per se doesn’t represent it. An innocent child sees people around him talking on cell phones and imitates them thinking this too must be a phone. Kids even have toy phones where they pretend to talk. Nothing too problematic here. Even we used to do it with older landlines.”

Back in November 2022, Mahindra shared a cartoon that showed a group of senior citizens in a nursing home with their hands held up in such a way as if they were holding imaginary phones.

While sharing this cartoon, Mahindra wrote, “That’s a seriously depressing cartoon. But it’s made me decide to put down the phone (after tweeting this!) and ensure that my Sunday is spent with my neck straight and my head up.”

This cartoon was attributed to Bizarro Comics. It was made in 2012 to highlight the side effects of always looking into one’s phone, which can lead to physical deformities.