According to an article on Common Sense Media, 50 percent of teenagers say that they feel like they are addicted to their cell phones and social media. Now, have you ever thought of your cell phone usage as an addiction? As a college student, walking from class to class or sitting in a restaurant I see this statistic and disconnection of society played out daily, and I'm guilty of it as well. If you aren’t part of the vast majority with your mind buried in your cell phone, I’m sure that you see it as well.
Since the majority of society today is on our cell phones so much, we tend to live in a virtual and unrealistic world, and the effects of this lifestyle eventually takes a toll on our behavior and mental health, even if it is something small. Social Media has the ability to place false life and self -image expectations in young teenagers and adult’s minds, ultimately leading to depression and unsatisfaction. In the world of social media, images can be edited, and often we often only share the highlights of our lives. You hardly ever see anyone posting an image on Instagram about the terrible day they had, the bad test grade they received, or about personal issues. So, whenever you see someones personal social media profile, it looks like they have a perfect life, which often leaves us feeling like we're stuck behind the screen, watching someone else reality tv show. When actually, the person you may be following is only showing the best times in their lives and ultimately covering up their hardships. Therefore blurring the line of what is a realistic expectation, and what is yet another, unrealistic ‘goal’.
Another issue that social media and technological devices present is that technology is robbing children of their childhoods. I received my first social media account when I was 13 years old, and my first phone at that age as well. Now, young children attain a social media profile at a much younger age. Recent studies show that over half of children use social media by the age of 10. I challenge you to think back to your time as a 10-year-old for a second. I'm not sure about all of you, but when I was 10 years old, I was concerned about what was going to happen on the next episode of Hannah Montana, or the newest color razor scooter I wanted next. Child Psychologist, Dr.Richard Woolfson, says that children who are gaining access to social media sites are being exposed to content, people, & situations that are out of their depth & that they are not emotionally prepared for.
Thinking about what this could mean for our future generations is frightening. While technology has the ability to connect people across the country, the overuse of cell phones and social media creates a false reality for young adults today and fosters the genuine disconnection of society. People need personal and genuine relationships, and those relationships can only happen if you spend time with individuals off of your devices.
So the next time you find yourself walking across campus between classes, or sitting at a dinner table with people you love, try your hardest to have less screen-time, and more face-time.