Katherine Dee Advocates for 'Fairyland' View of Smartphones in New York Times Feature

Cultural critic Katherine Dee has challenged the prevailing narrative surrounding smartphone use, proposing that these devices be seen as "a portal into Fairyland" rather than a "drug." Dee's perspective, featured in The New York Times on November 28, 2025, calls for a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with digital technology. "I’m in the @nytimes today. Stop calling your phone a drug. It’s a portal into Fairyland!" Dee announced on social media.

The New York Times opinion piece, titled "Why We Need Fairy Tales in the Digital Age," delves into Dee's argument against the addiction metaphor often used to describe internet and phone use. She contends that while the addiction framework captures some compulsive aspects, it fails to offer a path for adaptation in a world irrevocably shaped by technology. Instead, Dee posits the internet as an "otherworld" with its own rules and geography, akin to the enchanted realms of folklore.

Katherine Dee, a prominent writer on internet history and culture, has consistently explored the intricate impacts of digital platforms on society. Her work, often published on her blog default.blog and in outlets like The Spectator and Tablet, seeks to provide alternative interpretations to widespread anxieties about technology. This latest feature in a major publication underscores her role in shaping contemporary discourse on digital living.

Dee's article draws parallels between navigating the internet and ancient myths of crossing into otherworlds, suggesting that folklore can provide guidance for understanding the digital realm. She references tales like that of Thomas the Rhymer and J.R.R. Tolkien's concept of "recovery" through fairy stories to illustrate how seeing the internet as a fairyland can offer a sharper, less jaded view of its power and strangeness. This framework extends to artificial intelligence, which she describes as a "creature from the otherworld" with its own logic.

Ultimately, Dee advocates for adapting to the internet by acknowledging its unique nature and learning to navigate its complexities while staying grounded in the physical world. Her "Fairyland" metaphor encourages users to recognize the enchantments and potential costs of this digital realm, promoting a more mindful and informed engagement with technology.