We've all been there: you're at the dinner table with friends or family when you look up to realize that every single person is absorbed in the presence of a small electronic screen. Perhaps you're walking with a companion, in the middle of what you thought was a deep conversation when you look over to find that everything you just said went out the other ear of their smartphone. We have all been victimized by the black hole that is technology. The problem is, we don't address it.
With the advancement of technology has come the decay of human interaction. Although it is true that we are now able to stay in touch and communicate in long-distance relationship unlike previous times, it is also true that we don't use our devices for that purpose only. We use our phones to call stores that we once would have walked to, we text our friends who are a room away, and we hide behind the chat rooms of dating websites and other social media. We take our privilege for granted and have, in turn, become increasingly socially inept.
During the day, whether we be at work, school, or even relaxing at home, there is always a looming anxiety associated with our technology and social media. There's a constant nag of, "Check your phone. Check it again. It's been five seconds, someone could have liked your picture. Check it again. Did so and so respond? Oh, they didn't? Check your phone again in two minutes," and so on. Most people have a difficult time being separated from their phones and the result is displayed in our shortened attention spans.
I can definitely say that I'm an offender of the addiction to some degree, but I always try to put my phone down when in the presence of other people. We take for granted the time we spend with other human beings when we are engaged in other activities. Instead of really enjoying our ultimately short time together, instead of celebrating the fact that we are alive and able to breathe and share moments with one another, we avert our attention to Instagram, Facebook, and other technological distractions. It's different if you're sharing a video, quickly looking up directions for how to get home, or doing anything else that includes the people you're with. However, blatantly ignoring the atmosphere around you to look at glorified pixels is perhaps not the greatest action you can perform as a friend.
A message to all my friends and family: when I am with you, I want to be with you. If I catch myself absorbed in something other than our time together, I will stop myself. You should do the same. Because you mean too much to me for that.
