The Bangalore virus: AirPods, social media, and fear of being alone - the life of modern Bangalore

Bangalore, often hailed as India’s tech capital, is facing a new kind of epidemic, one not caused by germs, but by the relentless pace of modern life. Residents of the city, particularly young professionals, seem trapped in a monotonous cycle that has been dubbed the ‘Bangalore Virus’.

A typical day starts with waking up and immediately checking Teams, followed by stand-up meetings and back-to-back work until late evening. Dinner is often ordered via apps like Swiggy, with health-conscious choices like Cali Burrito competing with indulgent comfort foods. Even leisure time is dictated by screens, scrolling Instagram or X while Netflix plays in the background has become routine. Sleep comes, only for the cycle to repeat the next day.

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Observers say this pattern is not limited to a few individuals; it is a city-wide phenomenon. Walk down roads in HSR Layout or Indiranagar, and one sees AirPods glued to ears, the sound of podcasts filling the silence. Residents seem fearful of being alone with their thoughts, even for a few minutes.

Despite earning lucrative salaries of 30–40 LPA, many feel trapped in a paradox: money is spent buying back the time that work consumes. From paying extra for Instamart deliveries instead of walking to a nearby kirana store, to spending Rs 4,000 on a brunch at Lavonne just for a social media story, Bangaloreans are outsourcing life itself.

Experts suggest the solution may lie in reclaiming small moments of presence, slowing down, and daring to be alone with oneself, a remedy for a city slowly succumbing to the ‘virus’ of autopilot living.