Their luminosity is the first and last thing that we see each day. It’s light kisses our faces good morning and goodnight. This radiance follows us around everywhere. Sometimes we’re not able to see it, but we know that it’s always there. For this current generation, this bright light that we start and end our days with is not the sun or the moon. It comes from the 5-inch retina display from the product that has captivated our generation: the smart phone. We have become consumed by the input that is received on these pieces of technology that have corrupted our generation. The smart phone’s severity has become so influential that in order to stay connected, we have to tweet, scroll, update, watch and absorb the activity of others around us. As a generation we willingly decide to sacrifice genuine interpersonal relationships and a life of true meaning for the cellular device that claims to be smart. We have ingrained in our brains that gratification and acceptance comes from social media and through texting. Our aspirations have diminished to how many likes we receive on pictures or favorites we receive on tweets. This generation has become too infatuated with the approval of others through these phones that we call “smart.” There is a world that lies right in front of us, waiting to be changed, and we can’t seem to look past these 5-inch screens.

There is a prevalent stigma in our generation: “If you didn’t post it, it didn’t happen.” We are living vicariously through our smart phones and the media that they obtain. Whenever we go to a new place, or just to dinner with friends we instantly feel the urge to let followers know exactly what we are doing. Every funny or interesting experience is shared with the world because that’s how we feel accepted. We are too dependent on others and what they think of us. No wonder our generation suffers from low self-esteem, we seek other’s approval more so than the internal acceptance of ourselves. Since when should we need to take a “selfie” to feel confident? Why are we so desperate for external gratification from people behind computers and cell phones? Unfortunately, that’s what we have become. We are defined by our social media personas.

This form of existence has become the icon and depiction of our generation. In the picture shown above, there is an iPhone that is connected to the hand through what appears to be veins. The smartphone has become a part of us. Our minds and thumbs are wired to be in constant use of our phones. We can’t seem to shake the phones from our hands. One day I arrived to one of my classes early. I found a group of classmates waiting in the lounge area of the building. I went over to join them to find that they were all on their phones. Each person was staring at his or her phone like there was nothing better to do. I almost reached for mine, a habitual tendency of this generation that occurs when there is no one to talk to. However, I stopped myself. This awkward silence of tapping thumbs and scrolling fingers was terrifying.

The silence was deafening. Our generation has lost the ability and urge to communicate person-to-person, face-to-face. I tried to talk to one of the girls standing next to me and she acted as though I was bothering her. I shouldn’t have to feel ashamed to try and talk to people. Communication should be a skill that comes naturally and the only way that we are comfortable doing so is behind a phone or laptop. I’m afraid for this generation. Not only am I afraid that we will not know how to truly connect with others, but I am most fearful that we will leave this earth unscathed. Although social media is a very powerful source of information and retrieval, I believe this generation has fallen victim to it. We claim to value family, friends and thrilling experiences, but how can this be valid when all of this is exposed? Living in the moment is a concept that is challenging to this generation. People don’t feel validated for the simplicities of life such as lunch with a friend or reuniting with family unless there are likes and favorites attached to the experience. The line between real and fake has been blurred excessively. Are you really having a great time at that party when you feel the need to Snapchat a picture to all your friends? If we really lived in the moment, posting a picture to social media wouldn’t even cross our minds. But now our vision is impaired. We look through the 8-megapixel cameras attached to the phones that are glued to our hands to experience life.

We need to rip those veins out. The connection and constant use of our phones is detrimental to how we are living our lives. We are so connected to our phones that we are losing real connections. Romance has turned into posting a picture of your girlfriend on “Women Crush Wednesday” and responding to texts immediately. Friendships are only real if you have pictures of them on your social media accounts. No one plays outside anymore or goes on walks. How can we trust this generation to make true connections when our strongest bond is the one we have with our cell phones? We need to give our thumbs a break and live, really live.

I’m positive that this generation has the potential to change our world for the better. However, we can’t do so when we barely to know how to live for ourselves. Making a difference will be difficult with these phones entwined in our veins, begging to be used. If we plan on taking on the world in a few years, we need to break this cellular connection. I want there to come a day that I don’t see a couple on a date, one using a phone and the other looking sad, desperate for communication. I want this generation to pick up the ruins that are left over. We need to put down our phones, logout of Twitter and face what this world has to offer. Why should we let a piece of technology define our generation? The answer is that we shouldn’t. We need to put the effort that we use to tweet and post into something real, something lasting. As college students we are still impressionable and learning. So let’s use the power that we have and cut the veins that hold our phones to our hands. Once we break free, we can really change the world.