The 'Brilliant' Spoken Word Film With Over 12 Million Views That Might Convince You to 'Look Up' From Your Smartphone

You might be more likely to put down your smartphone after watching this five minute spoken word film.

"I have 422 friends, yet I'm lonely," writer and director Gary Turk says at the outset of the video. "I speak to all of them every day, yet none of them really know me."

Posted to YouTube late last month, the video titled "Look Up" is a poetic diatribe against the excessive use of technology — and it has ironically taken the Internet by storm.

Instructing viewers to "look up from your phone, shut down the display, take in your surroundings and make the most of today," the short film has achieved over 12 million views since being uploaded.

The video has also generated a debate online about whether or not society grapples with a problem of overusing smartphones and tablets.

"This is absolutely phenomenal, a great lesson taught through a beautiful love story!" one individual commented.

[sharequote align="center"]"This is absolutely phenomenal, a great lesson taught through a beautiful love story!"[/sharequote]

"Brilliant," echoed another.

Yet, not everyone agreed with the message.

"False dichotemy that this technology based social life is far inferior to the physical world," one individual countered. "I find this video as weak and simple view on internet communities and experience."

"Stop blaming the technology, and take responsibility for how you use it," another person quipped.

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