Netanyahu: Ditch Your Smartphone and Live a Little

Israel PM complains that people are 'slaves' to their gadgets
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 1, 2014 4:12 PM CDT
Netanyahu: Ditch Your Smartphone and Live a Little
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference Tel Aviv.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty, Pool)

Introducing Benjamin Netanyahu, social media critic. In off-the-cuff banter before an interview session, the Israeli prime minister complained about how the digital age has made us all (except him) "slaves" to their gadgets, reports the Times of Israel and Haaretz. Some excerpts:

  • Netanyahu: "I don't get this new world. Everyone is taking pictures. When do they have time to live? They're taking pictures all the time. Everyone is taking pictures of each other. Only taking pictures, that's all they do. Taking pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures. Stop taking pictures: Live!"

  • Off-camera voice: "If you didn't take a picture, it's like you never actually lived it."
  • Netanyahu: "I lived, and didn't take a picture."
  • Netanyahu, a bit later: "No, I'm not buying it. So I'm the only person here without all these electronic devices? And I'm a free man, and you're all slaves. You are slaves to your gadgets."
The Washington Post wraps up its coverage of the rant by noting that Netanyahu not only has an active Instagram account, he recently posted a selfie. (More Benjamin Netanyahu stories.)

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