Viewing the open path from the freshmen dorms to D2, one will invariably find at least one student looking down at their phone in a half-bid attempt to avoid eye-contact with that one peer from a class they took last semester whose name still evades them. While it may seem but an innocent symptom of freshman awkwardness, it is in fact a malignant symptom of something much deeper — a dangerous culture of technology.

Faces flooded by the eerie blue of our devices stroll aimlessly like zombies across our campus. Often, we find ourselves engrossed in limitless content on social media that never seems to satiate our appetites. Our use of technology at NYU Abu Dhabi has become a problem. In our 10 short years, we have developed a culture of interdependence — not on each other, but on our obsession over technology. This university as an institution has fostered an infrastructure that is based on technology from the ground up. To access its fundamental academic materials like syllabi, required readings and assignments, we are forced online. Class materials are only accessible on NYU Classes, registering for classes and learning classroom locations require Albert and important student announcements are only available on the Student Portal.

All of these functions are hidden behind the notorious gatekeeper that is the Duo Mobile Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). As a result, the smartphone and student have developed a parasitic relationship — the phone has become a pest that simply cannot be ignored. To log on to any NYU-affiliated website, we are forced onto our smartphones and the Duo Mobile app to reaffirm our identity through a few taps on the screen. This becomes a problem when it comes to studying. On many occasions, I would log into NYU Classes and use the Duo Mobile app, only to be distracted by notifications on my phone. Consequently, another study session with promising beginnings is derailed into a long night of funny memes and videos.

However, there is an easy solution to this problem. We simply need to reform the frequency by which MFA is required. There is no doubt that MFA provides a strong second wall of security to confidential information, but the fact remains that many students own their own private laptops, protected by their log-in details. Logging on to their own laptops should be sufficient for authentication processes and thus, MFA should not be necessary every time.

This is not a call to scrap MFA entirely. Rather, what I am suggesting is the option of staying logged in. The duration of staying logged in should extend from one day to one week — minimum. Security will not be compromised, and studies will no longer be derailed by the need to have a phone present when you study.

The NYU Abu Dhabi culture of technology is pervasive and seeps in everywhere, including my infrequent lapses of procrastination. Scrolling through social media, Facebook posts from Room of Requirement and Student Life appear next to funny cat videos and outrageous political commentary. During leisure time, posts of public complaints about trivial inconveniences, photos of missing NYU student ID cards and advertisements for Student Interest Group events become fun distractions that enliven our online experience. But when placed in the context of focused study time, these distractions become rigid impediments to efficiency. Duo Mobile is a tiresome irritant that is not necessary by any means. It is, therefore, essential to remove or at least reconfigure the process of MFA

With the risks of technology overuse well-documented, potentially harms towards our health and our social interactions are obvious. Developments from Silicon Valley have allowed our productivity level to improve. Communication between peers has never been easier. However, it has also created slumps in our posture, worsened our eyesight, increased our anxieties and disrupted our sleep cycles. Despite the humorous tendency of young university students to complain about back problems, stress and anxieties, technology poses a serious threat against the wellbeing of all students.

Duo Mobile lies at the crux of the technological crisis at NYUAD. Under the allure of the flashy bright lights of new technology, we have developed security applications that overcomplicate rather than simplify our busy lives. Allowing us to stay logged in without having to repeatedly undergo the process of MFA would remove an unnecessary distraction.

Technology usage at NYUAD has become a problem and one that must be addressed. Whether we choose to take action as suggested above or otherwise, we, as a community, must switch on mentally and switch off our technology.