Read the following passage from a satirical essay about modern technology:
'In an age where our devices are not merely tools, but cherished companions, it seems we've traded our humanity for a collection of glowing screens. Consider the profound connection we foster with our smartphones—those sleek, omnipotent rectangles that simultaneously inform, entertain, and alienate us. As we swipe and scroll our way through consciousness, it becomes abundantly clear: the glaring irony is that while we boast of being more connected than ever, we have never been so utterly alone.'