Controlled by the tiny, revolutionary computers hidden in every individual's pockets today, society has welcomed the widespread obsession with the world that lies beneath the screens of our smartphones. It is without a doubt that social media has altered our perception of the world around us drastically, in regards to relationships and self-worth. This is only becoming more and more prominent as technology advances. A controversial topic indeed, but it's time to open our eyes, look up from our devices and truly observe what's really happening around us.

We live in a world where we value friendships based on the length of a Snapchat streak, or how many Instagram posts we may have with someone. Whether we're in a coffee shop, city bus or social gatherings, many resort to tapping away on their iPhones as a means to escape from the reality of having to be social, an action that was once considered rude but is now acceptable. It seems like there is no stopping this ever-present habit. Social media presence has altered the way many create relationships; the emergence of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have taken all the work out of finding romance. Nowadays, traditional dating seems like an unattainable feat to many.

Above all, there is a complete lack of privacy, enforced by many who paint themselves to have perfect lives. In reality, these are just warped façades attempting to bring us down. The notion of perpetually having to be social is enforced by constant Facebook status updates about everyone's whereabouts eradicates the appreciation of alone time, as they instill the lingering and subconscious fear of missing out (i.e., FOMO).

Moreover, this then inevitably leads to the widespread effect of deteriorating self-worth. I notice a presence of anxiety among the youth when it comes to their social media presence. An ongoing cycle exists where many fear they're not getting enough likes or retweets. Teens "Facetune" themselves to appeal to their social media audience and compare with unrealistic social media figures who do the same. This cycle goes on and on, masking and hiding reality with the mirage of underlying flaws that truly exist. Self-confidence can be severely impacted as users of social media who now rely on the virtual world for acceptance rather than one's own cognition.

As I sit here preaching the wrongs of modern-day communication, fully engaging in this vicious cycle by having multiple social media tabs pulled up while typing this, I realize I'm not perfect. No one is, and we are all victims of this cycle in some shape or form. However, I'm unveiling the truth in efforts to increase awareness of the issue at hand. There are steps that I take to suppress the effects of the system that I'm willing to share. I really (and ironically) recommend the app Moment to track and manage your phone usage. This has helped me tremendously in realizing how reliant I am on my phone. Furthermore, its also helped in setting goals/limits regarding my use of social media. When doing work, I avoid the temptation of going on my phone by simply turning it off or leaving it in another room in order to increase productivity.

I'll admit, it's fairly easy to get caught up in the smokes and mirrors of social media; its presence is ubiquitous. However, I strongly believe there are steps you can take to diminish its effects. What's the first step? Accepting the truth.