How many times a day do you check your phone?
According to a recent study released by Deloitte, the average person checks their phone about 46 times per day. This number is derived from the cell phone use across all age groups, however Americans that use their phones the most are between the ages of 18 and 24, averaging about 74 times per day. If you are one of these people, you most likely hit the home button on your phone just about every five minutes to check text messages, phone calls, snapchats, and other social media notifications. Although modern technology has unavoidably become part of our very human nature, our obsession with cell phones and social media is toeing a detrimental line.
It is now very rare for younger generations to pick up a phone and call someone-- they prefer text messaging. Even if what the have to say will take twenty minutes to type, people still choose texting as their main form of communication. Instead of accomplishing everything they have to say in a short phone call, they spend hours messaging information back and forth.
Why?
Many believe that sending a text message is easier than a phone call because it is less confrontational. It is much easier to send a quick, text blurb to someone, rather than actually speaking to them. Not only does this create fractures in our ability to deeply connect with another person, but it also causes society to become inept in articulating their ideas when communicating with others. Someone who is an outgoing and quick texter may not possess the skills necessary for personal interactions. It is much easier to text OMG NO WAY LOL to someone, than to act so interested in person. As the prominence of text messaging grows throughout the United States, out country begins to lose the very essence of our evolutionary abilities to communicate with one another. People begin to obsess over their texts, causing an unhealthy addiction this small, yet dangerous action.
The use of cell phones and social media has also grown exponentially within the last few years, as iPhones, apps, and new forms of social media interactions have surfaced. From snapchat, to Instagram, to VSCO, to Vine, our generation has become addicted to the thrill of posting photos of our whereabouts online. Individuals go to events already knowing the caption of the picture they will post when they get there. They know exactly what pose they need to do in order to look good, and they plan out exactly who they will take their pictures with. This prevents these individuals from actually experiencing what is happening in their lives. They are so concerned with posting an amazing status or uploading exceptional photographs, that fail to see what the beauty of life around them. This can become obsessive and unhealthy. Many become so obsessed with how they appear on social media or with what other people are posting, that they struggle to succeed in their real life.
Problems with technology don't stop at just excessive texting and social media use. This can cause a whole host of problems such as cyberbullying, distractions from education and school work, addiction, and an unhealthy reliability on electronics.
Technology is not necessarily a bad thing-- it can be good in small doses. However, in overusing cell phones and social media, society has created a disconnection between themselves and others.
If you're one of these people-- one who checks their phone 74 times a day-- at least attempt to put your phone down ever-so-often. Before long, this excessive cell phone use could become detrimental to your well-being.
