Because of the introduction of the smart phone, apps were born. And with the birth of these never-ending apps (especially all the free ones) comes the funeral to our free time. Lay my countless minutes that I could be spending viewing the world around me in a red, velvet-lined casket and give it a proper Viking burial. I’ve since entered Hell…the app store. Here are the top five apps that have ruined my life.
1. Facebook
Ever since middle school happened, Facebook has been a constant part of my life. It’s always there…and it never leaves. It will probably never leave, let’s be real. Even though I’m in college and hardly anyone posts statuses anymore (at least not as much as they used to back when Facebook was still hot stuff), I just can’t help refreshing my news feed multiple times a day. Scratch that…I can’t even keep track of how many times.
I don’t know what keeps bringing me back even after seeing the same post 45 times a day. I probably know your dog as well as you do. I can probably even recall the layout of your house. That’s how well I know you…because I’ve seen your same post all day long. It’s my own fault! Whatever Facebook has done to me, it’s ruined my life. Yet, I can’t stop refreshing.
2. Pinterest
Anyone who avidly uses Pinterest can relate to this one. One day you’re just scrolling through your feed and you notice a pin about making mason jar candles for a baby shower or something. I make them anyway. Why? Because it’s Pinterest, and this app has a way of sucking you in and never spitting you back out.
Once you’re in the Pinterest cult, say, “sayonara!” to any common sense you once had. You like those Minion cookies? Sorry, your oven and icing skills give you big yellow rectangles. Did you mean school buses? I thought so. You think you know how to dress yourself? Oops, here’s an entire set of outfits that put yours to shame. Pinterest makes us reevaluate our entire lives and force us to reconsider how much effort is really enough effort to be Pinterest-worthy. Don’t even get me started again on the DIY projects.
3. Tumblr
Let’s throw it back to when you first discovered Tumblr because of one of your friends, and you could not figure out how the app worked if your life depended on it. My own blog? Of pictures? Words? Who do you follow? How do you even find people? What?
When I first downloaded this app, I struggled to figure it out for the longest time. You have to invest a lot of time in finding what blogs are worth following, figuring out how to set up your layout, and then deciding what you want others to see so that they can like it and follow you back. You basically have to sell your soul to commit to this app, because it literally takes the life out of you. And once you learn the ropes to how this app actually operates, your late night hours in bed are going to be spent scrolling through your dash to see the next picture, text, or video. It’s always a surprise. And sometimes, you even surprise others by what randomly comes up on your dash.
4. Piano Tiles 2
I literally downloaded this app two weeks ago, and I can shamefully say that I spend every single moment of my free time playing this game. It’s completely free, by the way, so you aren’t limited to a small selection of songs.
Every time you level up, you open three additional songs. It’s addicting, trust me. The songs are never-ending, and they get faster and faster! You basically feel like you can play the piano like a pro. Remember the “Don’t Step the White Tile” phase where literally all you did was press a black square as they came up amongst other white tiles? It’s the same concept, except with music. And the game isn’t static like the original tile-stepping app. This one is fluid and follows in tune to classical music. It’s a simple game, and that is precisely why it is ruining my life.
5. Snapchat
I can’t even do anything that’s vaguely out of the ordinary without having the thought, “I should Snapchat this”, pop into my head. Every single time.
Too much homework? Snapchat the frustration. Fat squirrel sitting on a ledge? Snapchat. The funny face filters? SNAPCHAT. It’s tempting to snap and drive, too, because it reads how fast you’re going. And not only that…but this song goes so well with this filter and scenery, right? Snapchat and its endless filters are actually more enticing to take photos with than just the iPhone or Android camera. "I just look so much better in Snapchat." Believe me, the feeling is mutual. Posting snaps on our story also aids in documenting our lives. It’s like Facebook, but with more visuals. The possibilities are endless.
