Lets face it: we're the start of a generation addicted to technology. We can deny it all we want, but to be quite honest, the fact that we can't get through a 50-minute class without checking our phones is a bit frightening. The thought of not having your phone in your hand at all times has probably given you nightmares at some point in time, and honestly, that's repulsive. The worst part about it is that I'm guilty of it too. I seriously miss the days spent with my hot pink Razr, where the only options were sending texts, (with a T9 keyboard, of course), making calls, taking extremely low quality pictures, and playing Bejeweled Blitz.
I've compiled this list in hopes of reducing your Smartphone usage at least a little bit every day. I'm not saying that you need to go throw your phone into the ocean and be done with it forever, but I highly suggest making a conscious effort to appreciate the world around you, because it won't stay like this forever.
1. We're losing our ability to think critically.
I don't mean to sound like the 80-year-old teacher that rants about how in his day, they had to go out and actually look for information, instead of having it at their disposal via Google, but here I go. What's the point of going through life as a mindless robot? Finding out information the hard way is more often than not, extremely rewarding, and sometimes worth the extra effort.
2. Our social skills are diminishing at an uncomfortably fast rate.
In order to be an effective member of a team, communication is essential, but, unfortunately, young people are becoming less and less confident with their speaking skills, and more and more confident with their typing. Over text, we have unlimited amounts of time to come up with the right thing to say, so verbal conversation has become inevitably awkward as a result.
3. Increasing numbers of people are literally causing physical damage to themselves because they don't have the willpower to look up from their phones.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 1,152 emergency room cases were surfaced as a result of walking while using an electronic device in 2011, and this number has undoubtedly risen since. You're not only hurting yourself when you do this. You're embarrassing the human population as whole.
4. We're no longer living in the present.
It is now more important to make it look like you're having fun over social media than it is to genuinely have fun, which really sucks. We care more about getting a cute selfie to Instagram at the concert we payed hundreds of dollars to see, than we do about actually enjoying the concert. Does it even count as hanging out with somebody if you don't take a picture of them and add it to your Snapchat story?
5. Our self-esteem is collectively plummeting.
Whether from excessive advertisement exposure, or a lack of likes on a picture/status, social media has at one point or another made most people feel like crap. Numerous studies have found that one's self-worth decreases as interaction with mass media increases. Today, our mass media intake is primarily absorbed through our smartphones.
6. YOLO.
Seriously. You only live once. When you are old and reminiscing about your childhood to your grandchildren, they are not going to ask you how many followers you had on Twitter or how many likes your Facebook profile picture had. You were put on this Earth to live your life to the fullest, and nothing should get in the way from you doing exactly that...not even your smartphone.
