Have you ever felt trapped inside the endless vortex of social media — where news about your friends, family, and even your own life reaches you through screens? That was the central question raised during the book signing event for Technophobia, written by the young Palestinian–Egyptian author Ahmed Awny, held at Diwan Gaza and published by Emli Publishing and Distribution on January 25, 2015. In his debut work, Awny takes a satirical yet deeply human approach to dissecting how the digital revolution has reshaped Arab societies. With wit and sincerity, he reflects on how people have replaced real interactions with virtual ones, escaping the world’s problems into a glossy illusion of connection. The book doesn’t preach solutions — instead, it holds up a mirror to reality. Awny admits he isn’t a psychologist; his goal is to provoke self-awareness. “The solution,” he says, “begins within the individual.” Interestingly, while Awny himself remains largely detached from social media, his keen observation of others’ behavior around him gave the book its authentic edge. During the signing event, one attendee humorously asked him: “Can you upload the book online so we can download it?” A perfect paradox that captured the irony of our times — even as we critique the virtual world, we remain entangled within it. Technophobia includes a series of sharp, relatable reflections: – “I am on Facebook, therefore I exist.” – “Disconnect to connect.” – “Friends aren’t devices — they’re thoughts, confessions, and shared hearts.” Awny’s writing, both playful and piercing, reminds readers that while technology can link us to the world, it can also quietly distance us from ourselves. As Kasra Press concluded in its feature, Technophobia is more than just a book — it’s a mirror to our generation, daring us to look back at what we’ve become in the age of the screen. 📍 Published by: Kasra Press