I think this isn't something specific to the internet and smart phones, it's just the sheer ubiquity and convenience make existing without them unfathomable despite plenty of people in the world living without it, like electricity or running water.
There's a difference between the convenience of a 2014 smartphone and a 2023 one
the former actually improves on convenience by having GPS directions, a camera, and everything else
the latter is like the former but runs 10x hotter and with 10x the eyestrain and you can't change the battery so it's actually significantly less convenient
I think this isn't something specific to the internet and smart phones, it's just the sheer ubiquity and convenience make existing without them unfathomable despite plenty of people in the world living without it, like electricity or running water.
There's a difference between the convenience of a 2014 smartphone and a 2023 one
the former actually improves on convenience by having GPS directions, a camera, and everything else
the latter is like the former but runs 10x hotter and with 10x the eyestrain and you can't change the battery so it's actually significantly less convenient