The “Inside Out 2 glued to phone” scene was a painfully accurate depiction of social media’s effect on people, especially teens.
Riley is no longer a little girl but a teen who struggles with completely new emotions. If you thought dealing with 5 emotions was bad, try anxiety, envy, embarrassment and two more emotions a modern audience can appreciate.
Imagine having double the number of emotions during a time when you’re the most vulnerable. Emotions that are a byproduct of the digital world we live in – namely boredom and apathy. Harmless in itself but lethal in large doses, capable of robbing us of our joy and ability to enjoy the present. Here’s why that scene matters and how we can protect ourselves from becoming glued to our phones.
Riley’s Glued To Phone Scene
Here’s the scene. Riley’s mind is racing with new emotions. Her usual crew: Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness and Disgust are ready to navigate her teenage phase. Unfortunately, they have to share their emotional headquarters with Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy and the most modern of them all, Ennui.
Ennui is an interesting character. The word is a French loanword meaning “listlessness, discontentment, and boredom arising from a lack of interest or stimulation.” Ennui represents boredom as she’s constantly glued to her phone.
The crucial scene reveals Riley being “glued” to her phone. Her eyes are completely locked on the screen. She sees a crazy montage of images and videos and before she has a chance to respond to one picture, another one pops up. From a flurry of likes to notification dings and online madness. You can see her anxiety rising and when it becomes too much, she switches off and numbs herself to the things she sees. Adding dismissive heart and like emojis with no real emotion to match. Her phone sucks her in and pulls her away from her reality.
Inside her chaotic mind, the emotions are trying to control the situation. Who’s gonna win the battle?
Will it be:
- Anxiety?
Who tries to refresh all the notifications Riley receives?
- Envy?
Playing on Riley’s insecurities by comparing her to her friends’ perfectly curated lives. - Embarrassment?
Deleting all posts to avoid any chance of mockery and criticism, even cyberbullying. - Maybe Joy
Trying to be heard in a sea of negativity.
It’s a hilarious scene but also a cautionary tale of what could happen when we stay in the digital place for too long.
Addicted to Your Phone? What Statistics Show
Inside Out 2, the glued-to-phone scene reveals one of the most difficult and defining challenges of our era: technology addiction.
Here are the stats:
- Studies show that outside of schoolwork, teenagers spend around 7 – 9 hours daily.
- Addicted to your phones? You’re not alone. In fact, social media platforms are created in a way that ensures you spend the most time possible online. The more you scroll, the more ads you see, the more brands you think about and potentially buy from or engage with.
- It’s more serious than you think. There’s a direct correlation between prolonged exposure to television or technology and increased rates of anxiety, poor sleep and depression.
Teens can see themselves in this scene and parents can see the effects that screen time has on their kids. We don’t feel like we’re being preached or lectured to in this movie. Instead, we feel part of a deeper conversation that we had with our kids and ourselves or one that we should be having.
What Screen Addiction Does to Our Emotions
Inside Out 2 has an incredible way of showing the effects of being glued to your phone. It’s not just a harmless tool that helps you pass the time but all our emotions are involved.
- Anxiety fears that she is missing out. What begins as a little curiosity becomes a frantic search to find out more or a desperate desire to be at that party, seminar, country or event.
- Envy’s ugly head appears when she sees everybody’s likes, accomplishments and happy comments. Envy is not only wanting what someone has but believing that they don’t deserve to have it. That type of resentment leads to a very deep unhappiness.
- Embarrassment is devastated when Riley posts something awkward or her friends shared an image of her that doesn’t paint her in the most flattering light.
- Joy struggles the most. Because when there are so many negative feelings, joy gets pushed down fighting her way to find space in her emotional headquarters.
Screen time can shape our emotions. The more time we spend on our devices, the more volatile our emotions become.
How the Online World Affects Teenage Minds
Like Riley, many teens base their self-worth on the validation from their social circles. Since most teens spend their time online, their identity is shaped in an artificial way. Bullying might be banned at school but cyberbullying is often hard to control. It’s easier to criticise someone online than to their face. A negative comment is one thing but the lack of engagement from someone else is another. Receiving no likes and having few followers is also a metric of self-worth.
Why Social Media Drives Us Crazy
The reality is, no one has 500 friends. We have about 3 – 5 good friends in high school on average. For the most part, you knew where you stood with them.
It’s devastating enough if you’re rejected by your social circle as a teen in the real world. Now imagine the perception that 500 friends don’t like you. Sure, your 5 friends liked your post but your friend Stacy’s silly post of her drinking a latte at Starbucks got 200 likes with like 50 comments.
Your initial contentment becomes envy, anxiety, paranoia and ultimately sadness because your friend (comparatively) is more loved than you. And also, why didn’t Stacy comment on your post?
It seems like a ridiculous spiral but it happens to the best of us. A teen is particularly vulnerable because their prefrontal cortex is still developing. They might be maturing physically but they often lack (due to no fault of their own) coping techniques to deal with their emotions. The experience feels more intense and more difficult to control and gain perspective over. There’s no chance for a reality check because technology is so consuming and demanding of our time and energy.
The glued-to-phone moment captures this moment perfectly. It’s more than just a distraction; it’s an emotional attachment. Everything that’s happening on-screen is leaving less space for joy, fun and a real connection.
Are Phones Really That Bad?
The thing that Inside Out 2 does really well is not to make phones the villain. If that were the case, Riley would’ve tossed her phone aside at the end of the movie. Hate the effects of social media? Good, throw your phone away!
That’s not realistic. Also, it’s not practical. Technology is extremely useful, opening up a wealth of information that we never had access to before. The internet keeps us abreast of what’s going on in the world and can help us stay connected to the people we love – if we use it the right way.
That’s the crux of the film. What is our relationship with technology? And how do we find that digital balance where a phone can enhance our lives, not dull the world we live in.
The glued-to-phone scene invites viewers to ask:
Why am I picking up my phone right now?
Be honest with yourself. Are you picking your phone up because you’re bored? Is there an assignment or project you need to complete but looking for ways to procrastinate. Even while writing this I’m thinking: “Let me check my Youtube real quick.” See? No one is immune.
How do I feel after scrolling?
Do you feel enlightened, informed, inspired or drained? A good test is to ask yourself what you’ve just seen or read. Better yet, tell someone else what you’ve just viewed. That way, you’re participating in the real world as well. Who knows? You and your friend or partner might start a conversation on why labradoodles make for better pets.
What did I miss out on when I wasn’t online?
It’s interesting how one’s perspective changes when they haven’t been online for a while. And by online, I mean reading celebrity news or watching an influencer showcase their glamorous lifestyle. It’s fun to watch but do we need to know every minute of every day what others are up to while inadvertently comparing our lives to theirs. Comparison is the thief of joy and social media is no different. Sometimes it’s better not knowing.
This film encourages us to reflect, instead of making us feel guilty and therein lies its power.
Tips for Families
Don’t worry if you left the theatre concerned about your own family’s screen time. We all felt that way. The Inside Out 2 glued-to-phone scene provided us with some practical steps:
1. Focus on Emotions
Instead of punishing your kids by reducing their screentime, focus on how the apps make them feel. Does TikTok bring you anxiety? Does Instagram trigger jealousy? Doing this will encourage children to think about the effects their time online is having on them.
Side Note: Not to knock limiting their screentime. There’s definitely merit in that. If kids know they have x amount of time to use their phones, they’ll be more intentional about the content they watch.
2. Create Screen-Free Zones
No phones at the dinner table, or during a car ride to and from school. There may be eye rolls when this rule is enforced but your kids will soon appreciate the benefits of being fully present.
3. Set the Example
Kids model their parents’ behavior. If adults are constantly on their phones, teens will be too.
4. Use the Words Used in the Movie
Say things like: “Looks like anxiety is blowing up your phone today.” This makes the conversation lighthearted and less of a lecture.
5. Encourage other Sources of Joy
Like the movie, Joy needs a space to thrive. Find out what your kids love to do. What sports do they like to play, and what are their favorite hobbies? Try them all and see what sticks. Invite their friends to play board games. Don’t let negativity and boredom win.
Conclusion: A Mirror for Our Modern World
Pixar is no stranger to addressing complex issues in a heartfelt and meaningful way. The movie Up deals with loss and healing. Finding Nemo is a beautiful tale about a father-son relationship. But the Inside Out 2 glued-to-phone scene speaks specifically to a unique issue we have that’s resulted from technology. Let’s face it, in 2025 we cannot talk about emotional health without acknowledging the role of technology. The scene is a culturally resonant moment. When Riley’s flopping around, frantically scrolling and ignoring the world around her, we see ourselves in it. It’s funny, it’s awkward and we can all relate to it.
The film doesn’t suggest we should ditch our devices. Instead, it reminds us that we need to pay attention to the why. Are we scrolling to escape? Why and for how long? And most importantly, does that escape make us feel better about ourselves or worse?
Every emotion has a part to play. We may have Anxiety starting a project but Joy when finishing it. Also we may feel sadness leaving junior high but Joy that we’re entering high school. We can’t escape our emotions but we can learn to control them. And no matter what, always leave a little space for Joy to shine through.
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