‘BitLife’ Ruined My Real Life: A Dangerous Mobile App Exposed
Wingspan writer Jon’nette Kidd descends into the trappings one of this year’s most addictive mobile games.
March 29, 2019
In a time full of emotional and political travesties not only in America, but all over the world, people are grasping at whatever sort of control they can gain. Whether it be cleaning your room, or dyeing your hair – we’re all just trying to have at least a semblance of order within our lives.
Now, enter BitLife, a life simulation mobile game which allows you to customize, randomize, and memorialize your “Bit-lives”. BitLife is a game where you have a randomized name and character, and are expected to live this new life to the fullest. The actions you make very much impact your life, and sometimes will choose whether you live or die. (…In the game, of course.)
The game is sweeping across the world as one of the most addicting apps, at least in my opinion. Once you’ve started your first life, you never want to stop.
Because the real world is so hectic and unexpected, people (like me) turn to whatever substitute money can buy (in this case a $1.99 Bitizenship subscription). According to my phone’s screen time I spend over an hour and a half playing BitLife a day. I know what you might be thinking, “An hour and a half is not a lot.”, and it’s not – but to just stare at your phone for multiple hours every day and play a monotonous game nonstop with no real end goal is truly alarming to think about.
I still remember the first time I ever played BitLife. It was seventh period World Cultures, and I didn’t have an iPhone, but my friend did (it was only available on IOS at the time). So naturally, I was snooping on her phone, taking pictures, playing games – when suddenly I stumbled upon a bright red app with a sperm cell on it.
An internal war raged in my mind as I struggled between paying attention in class and playing this seemingly interesting game. I was weak, and the red on the cover was so bright.
I opened the app.
I was greeted by a “life” my friend must have never finished and I tentatively asked, “Can I play it?” She said yes. It was all downhill from there.
When I finally got an iPhone, a deep ridden euphoria coursed through my veins and my fingers were lightning fast as I downloaded BitLife.
I immediately played it for 3 hours straight.
For days I spent playing life after life, quickly becoming more obsessed with the interactive game and itching for another fix, and even growing irritable if I didn’t play it for more than a day.
At the time, BitLife was my favorite (and only) pastime. Each night carried dreams of the game, at breakfast my fingers itched to tap on a screen. Fantasies of new lives spiraling around in my head- all I wanted to do was play this game.
Classes were failed (Okay, maybe I just missed one or two assignments). Friendships, lost (Okay, so I might have yelled at my friend in seventh period for not letting me play.) At one point, I had become so involved in this game that no one could tear me away from my phone.
At one point, an intervention attempt was made. My friends took my phone and explained that if I wanted to keep my grades up, I would stop playing this game – but my love of BitLife outweighed the love of my friends and family.
I didn’t play the game for three days.
THREE DAYS? You might ask. Appalling, I know, but truly all motivation to play the game was lost, I just found myself uninterested. Even the mere mention of the game had me annoyed, and without explanation, it seemed like having the opportunity to play the game all the time resulted in my depreciation for the game.
I began to hate it and I didn’t even have insight on why.
A reverse withdrawal, the doctor called it, but it felt like I was a motionless zombie coasting through life. BitLife no longer excited me, and nothing had made me as happy prior to, so what was left for me?
After a while of this meandering, I decided to give it another chance. At this point, I hadn’t played the game in a week and a half, and I was desperate for the relief that it may bring.
It wasn’t long before I fell back into the downward spiral. This time it was worse than before. I played it every chance I got. I woke up in the middle of the night, sweating and yearning to check my phone just so I could make sure that my Bit-life was going well. At one point, I had a dream that my virtual character died without my knowledge. Horrifying.
I asked around to see if other people experienced an obsession with the app as well, and while nobody’s experience was as extreme as mine, a lot of people agreed that it is a very addicting game. It is currently right next to Cat Condo as being one of the most entertaining apps in my opinion, BitLife brings an entirely new aspect to daily gaming for teenagers.
I am currently a Sophomore and Copy Editor for the Norristown Area High School Wingspan. I am also on the JV Norristown Cheer Team.
Hello! I’m Christinna Longenecker, a first year Wingspan writer. I’m pretty much one of those faces that you pass in the hall but can’t put a name...
This article gets all parts of what someone looks for and is quite entertaining. The topic is great just to the fact that it is modern and many people can relate.
i can relate to the feeling that you have with the addiction to bit life, because i was addicted to fortnite. i thought that the game was the-best and nothing else mattered. but i was soon to realize that it wasn’t because when i didn’t play it i felt like it it was obsolete.
I totally agree, my friends in art class continuously play this game like there’s no tomorrow . I used to play on my DS as a kid and i would ignore everyone until i fell asleep or I got hungry. This article is hilarious by the way!
I really loved your article. Reading it made me think of myself and how fascinated I am with this game, I should really stop playing.
This article is great because not only is it incredibly well written, it gives a story. You figure, it starts out with the slow drop into the obsession and then gradually leaves slaps in the face that cause you to realize how hard this game actually affected her. Plenty of people can relate as well, given the comment section. Overall it’s a pretty powerful article that shows just how entranced with mobile games youth can be.
Ok boomer.
But for real, just because *you* became obsessive doesn’t mean everyone will? Seems to me that *you* had a problem and once it became evident that it was ruining your life, you decided to blame the game instead of taking responsibility for your own actions.
Fact is, me and everyone else who’s played this game that I’ve had the pleasure of talking to can easily put the game down, can easily ignore the game for weeks if we have to. The fact that you can’t? Points to a problem with *you*, not the game.
To sum this up- stop blaming things for your problem and face the facts that you have issues that you need to work on.
You should play this game its fun and addicting
I don’t believe the game was the issue. If it is that addictive then you should go to therapy. I have played Bitlife and have stayed focus in school. It is possible. Any game can be addictive. For example Bitlife is a lot like the sims and that could also be addictive for some people. You can’t blame the game though. It’s a you problem. Something inside you doesn’t want to let this go.
I play the game of I have to wait in a queue or if I’m in a car but I’ve never really felt the need to play it right away. It’s just a game that I enjoy playing occasionally.
Amazing game. Check out the Alternative of Bitlife. https://opmobilegamer.com/alternative-of-bitlife-game/
The game is not the problem it’s the addiction itself you could at some point move on and then get a different addiction it’s all a cycle no matter what just like social media
It’s not the game’s fault. It’s yours. I do not relate to this article at all. I’ve never played BitLife for 3 hours straight. You became addicted, I think you might need counseling for these behaviors, though. I’ve played this game, it’s fun to play, but this game shouldn’t become anything more than a time killer. Any game can become addictive depending on the gameplay that suits you, but you should take measures like only playing for 30 minutes to an hour a day. BitLife is not the problem here. I think that boundaries are the actual problem.
Yes, I have the same problem.
During the beginning of summer holiday, I have download bitlife.
I play during One hour each day, and I complete more and more lives.
But, one day, one of my character died because he practiced autoerotic asphyxia.
My mom said me “uninstall this game” and I uninstall him, but I have uninstall him and download after five times.
Then I read this article, and I undestood Bitlife is really dangerous.
Since, I do prevention to my classmates in school
If you are under 18 years, n download bitlife!!!!
I have the same problem. Whenever I uninstall the game I feel like I have to reinstall it. I am an addict and I think the problem is with both game and me. Firstly, this game is addicting because when you close the app, some of informations about your job, exes and friends change, so you can’t leave it until you die. Secondly, you don’t mostly die until your 110s so living only one bit life takes hours. But I think we should deal with our own addictions. Alcohol is addicting too but not all of drinkers addicted. I think first step is uninstalling the app. And the 2nd is focusing on your own life and whatever it takes, do not reinstall it. I am an addict of this game for 2-3 years and I have tried to leave it for many times, but in the end I always reinstalled it. I hope this time it would be last. Good luck to everyone who has the same problems with me!
If a game becomes this addicting to the point where you wake up in the middle of the night worrying about it then you should get some help, I do not have experience in addictions because I’ve never had one that seriously affected my life but you should delete the app, I know it sounds hella hard but it’s good for you in the long run. If you don’t want to delete the app because you’re worried about losing progress offload the app or turn off notifications.
-Fellow BitLife Player
Well, I do think so that the game is addicting but i dont think its to the point that you should be playing it that much you should get help or just keep your mind busy!
Really I am too addicted to this game. I am not able to focus on my studies as well. Let’s Bccoyt BitLife.