The Missing Link

We are a part of a generation of technological advancements. Before there were iPhone or laptops, people used landlines or computers in public libraries. With the invention of these whimsical gadgets, we have grown up in a world where living is made easier. Although, with comfort comes harmful backlash. While many may not see what technology has turned us into, I have seen, firsthand, how human interaction is slowly deteriorating off the face of the Earth.

When the phone was first created, it was thought to be a bridge of communication for people who were physically unable to speak to another person who was a fair distance away. I was not born when the first telephone was brought onto the market, but I know, from movies and pictures, it’s nothing like the slim device we use in our everyday lives. Maybe the inventors had the right idea making telephones bulky and impossible to lug around. If they were still designed this way, we would not be as deeply rooted in our social issues as we are now.

Cellular devices are one of the world’s biggest commodities. You cannot go a day without seeing a cell phone commercial praising or dissing a rival company. They always show you the new features on the phones, from fingerprint locks to watches that sync to the device; however, what they don’t show are the negative side effects. Of course this would not be shown in a commercial trying to get your hard earned dollars, so I will illuminate the situation. While we are off buying the next latest and greatest phone, we are losing the little time we do have with the people we love and care for. Some might not agree with me, even to go as far as to say that they text or call when they can. Although we do these things, we still do not give our full attention to our loved ones. We could be in the same room as a friend and completely ignore their existence. For what? 20 seconds of typing? How could we belittle the people who matter to us the most just to practice our twisted devotion to our phones?

I have personally made it my own sort of observation to watch the people on my campus and view how they interact with one another. I must say that the results are devastating. The cafeteria is a well-known hub for information to be exchanged and the interaction of people; however, now it’s just a place to sit, eat, and text or snapchat. We are missing what’s right in front of us, yet we do not see it happening because our visions are obscured by our screens. Us millennials were born before the introduction of cell phones, we know how to live without it, but we can’t seem to get out of its grasp. Sadly, we have been ensnared by the seductive presence of cell phones.

I believe, however, that there is hope for my generation to get out of this cycle. I have to hold on to this belief because there is another generation coming right on our heels. It is imperative that we establish a boundary on technology, so the generation behind us won’t fall into the same trap we did. We have to set the right example so they know not to let phones or anything of the sort absorb our time and the link that binds us together as humans.