Millennials are often criticized for our excessive cell phone usage. Sometimes it's fair and sometimes it's not. Phones can be an instrument of exploration, or they can be a ball and chain. So many people get stuck on their phones and are unable to take a look around them and really be present. Present-ness is certainly a struggle in this generation, but I have a list of some of the great reasons people have their noses stuck on their phones.
Pros
1. Communication With Those Far Away
I get it, maybe this isn't the best time for my group text with my classmates. But it's summer now and I miss them! During the academic year, we see each other every single day and have fantastic conversations. But then one day, we're sent back home and magically those friendships stand the connivance test. Do my friends only want communication with me if I am right there, or do they want to continue our typical correspondence from a distance? Aside from peers, there are also family members and other loved ones we communicate with far more often than we would if we didn't have that awesome rectangle in our pockets!
2. Current Events
Argue all you want, but most of us millennials do not have television subscriptions, and Netflix is not an awesome source of worldwide news. Whether it is a news app, or even shares on Facebook, phones have proven to be an extremely efficient route for discovering and researching current events. How do you think I found out about anything important this year? Cosmo Snapchat. I'm not sorry about that either because it's not like you can trust any news outlet completely, so I chose a fun publication.
3. Recipes
I owe all of my cooking skills to my phone (also my mother, but I wasn't really forced to cook until she wasn't in the same city as me anymore). Honestly, my first real meal consisted of me Googling how long to cook chicken so I didn't contract salmonella. Also, bless Pinterest and all of its glory for tons of amazing recipes to make sure I don't eat popcorn for dinner every night. Plus, dinner takes planning, so if I'm on a break at work or school, that's the perfect time to plan what to make!
4. Pictures
I'm an avid stereotypical white girl. I love taking pictures of everything. Food, flowers, people, food, buildings, food, landscapes, food. I've got to get it just right because I'm terribly forgetful. This helps me save the current present for later (#tbt) to post or appreciate on my own.
Cons
So there are all the reasons to be on your phone. However, I agree wholeheartedly that we have a problem. We cannot just walk around with our heads down all day long, and here's a list of why not:
1. Forward Head Posture
This is probably the PT student in me, but we sit and stand with our heads looking down all the time and we wonder why our posture is atrocious when compared to generations prior. We're probably all at least half an inch shorter than we should be because our necks are perpetually in a flexed position. (See also, hand injuries from phone usage.)
2. Data Usage
Hi Mom and Dad, here's my public apology for using a ton of data this month. I swear it was mostly from traveling and navigating! I guess this doesn't make a great case for me though!
3. Lack of Present-ness
We 100 percent need to be more present. I can't count on both of my hands the number of times I've been irritated with friends who make the time to hang out with me, but spend all of our time together on their phones. Why can't we set our phones face down next to us, or better yet in our bags and pockets and enjoy our time together?
An awesome barista at a local Starbucks once said of all of us in line, "What is wrong with your generation? Look up and talk to one another!" He was right. I have great reasons for being on my phone, but there is a time and place. Back in the day, we had to spend our extra free time either being shy and awkward or talking and making new friends. I'm sure we could all use another friend or two!
