It is undeniable that many of us are consumed by our cell phones. We see it constantly—people glued to their screens nearly every minute of every day. And, I’ll admit, I’m also guilty of it. Checking social media is entertaining and causes us to feel connected to the world around us. But, to be honest, I think that the obsession that our society has with social media has gotten out of control.

Sometimes I wish that I lived in a different generation. I wish that I was born when technology wasn't so advanced—when if you wanted to know what your friends were up to you had to pick up a phone with a long, windy cord and bulky numbers. It seems refreshing to not have the burden of a cell phone with access to so many different social media platforms that seem to demand our attention. Sure, our cell phones help us in so many ways because they allow us to stay in contact with whoever, whenever we need to, but I oftentimes feel that the virtual world is taking over too much of the way that we operate and think.

The effort that is put into taking the perfect picture to post on social media oftentimes overshadows the importance of living in the moment. Making memories and focusing on the little things have been overshadowed by an obsession with finding the perfect filter and caption. It is evident that we are living in a culture where an infatuation with our “image” and vanity is increasingly evident and even expected. The pressure to keep up with technology as it skyrockets at an ever-growing rate can be overwhelming.

The reality is that social media has caused a great deal of conformity. Because we are so closely and easily connected to those around us via social media, we are often categorized by the particular image that we have created for ourselves and the way that we present ourselves individually on social media.

I long for a reality where living in the moment and appreciating the world around us instead of being slaves to a screen is apparent in our modern society. But, the true reality is that the obsession that our society has with social media is only continuing to grow. It is our responsibility to monitor how heavily we prioritize social media in our daily lives.