Our generation is completely dependent on technology. It's not 100 percent our fault because we grew up with it, we started learning computer skills in elementary school. However, it is our fault that we've allowed ourselves to become addicted to our cell phones. Don't get me wrong I'm the first to admit that I'm addicted to my phone and obsessed with social media. I just wish I wasn't. Here's a pro, con list of all the things we love and hate about our cell phones.
1. Pro: Social media
Social media has allowed us to keep in touch with family and friends who we might not be able to see every day. It's easier to share pictures and updates about our lives and allows us to stay updated on the newest news, trends, etc. Most of us only receive news updates from social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It's something we all rely on and it's something we all enjoy, most of the time.
2. Con: Social media
Ever since social media started, bullying has increased, heck, it's its own kind of bullying-- cyberbullying. Social media took off while we were growing up so we were the last generation to actually grow up at a normal pace. The generations younger than us are growing up way too fast. They have Instagram and think that real friends are people who like your picture. At least we know it's all about the like to like ratio! Just kidding. But seriously, in my opinion children shouldn't have a cell phone or any social media until an appropriate age like 13.
3. Pro: Pictures
One of my favorite things to do is look through old photos from when my parents were little and from my childhood. One of the best things about cell phones is being able to take as many pictures as you want and being able to look back through them as many times as you want. People who have kids can finally record the big and small moments in their babies life easily and immediately share it with friends and family. Sure before cell phones there was video cameras but cell phones have just made it easier and more accessible.
4. Con: Pictures
So you're at a concert recording the performance and then after you go back and rewatch the video and live in that moment again. But are you really living in that moment again? During a concert or exciting event we are so busy to record or snapchat it that we aren't really living in the moment. We are looking into a tiny screen thinking about where we'll post it and who will see it. That's not living in a moment. Recently Adam Levine asked the audience during one of his Maroon 5 concerts to put their phones away for ONE song. He wanted everyone to look around and remember the moment they were in with the people that were around them. In the front row members of the audience kept their phones out to record the very popular song. Before starting the song Levine took their phones and said they would get them back after the song. Levine just wanted everyone to live in the moment and have one memory that they could talk about instead of showing on a tiny screen.
5. Pro: Facetime
Being able to Facetime someone is amazing. We can talk face to face with family, friends and other loved ones when we are missing them. It allows us to stay in contact with people on a more personal level when they are far away. Or you can even Facetime a friend when they aren't around and you need to talk or show them something.
6. Con: Texting
In high school texting was practically the only way we communicated with friends. It was easy and fast and since we were all always on our phones anyway you knew the person you were texting would respond within minutes. However, now that we've gotten older and we're doing other more important things such as studying and working, it's sometimes easier to just call someone or Facetime them. Another awful thing about texting is being out with friends and everyone is just on their phones texting (or checking social media). One of the worst things is being out to dinner with a group of friends and realizing everyone is texting other people who aren't at the table. Why bother being there if you want to talk to someone else?
As we get older we realize that social media isn't that important so why should cell phones be any different? Yes, we need it for work things like important business calls and emails but other than that, are cell phones really as important as we make them seem?
