Growing up, I was one of those loser kids. I did not have very many friends when I was in middle school, or even high school for that matter. But that did not stop me from wanting a cell phone. I got my first phone when I was in 6th grade. As most other 6th graders, I had a pay as you go phone and I could not text on it. No, this was strictly an emergency phone that was pre-programmed to call only my mom, my dad, and my older sister. Naturally, I became a bratty 11- year-old and complained to no end that I could not text or call all of my friends (mind you, I did not have any friends). My parents finally caved when I was in 7th grade. For Christmas, they bought me a brand spanking new Envy 2... idiots. From that point forward, I was addicted to technology. I literally could not go ANYWHERE without my smart phone. I needed eyes on it at all times to respond to my important business calls.
Years later, this has changed for me, but I cannot say the same for the rest of my generation or the up and coming generation following right behind me. I can not tell you how many times I have gone out to eat with my boyfriend and had to swat his phone out of his hands because he can't step away from Facebook (of all things, Facebook) for 40 minutes while we eat our breakfast. This bothers me to no end. I can now safely step away from my phone for hours on end without getting the sudden itch to see who has attempted to contact me, but the people around me seem to have glued their phones to their hands.
Not to mention the children of our generation. Instead of going outside and playing, children are playing on iPads and learning how to waste their lives away too, just as my generation did. Instead of swimming and building forts, these kids are playing candy crush and texting. I don't even want to get into these kids having Facebook and twitter. They use these social media websites to basically embarrass themselves between the ages of 10-16ish (before they realize how absurd raccoon eyeliner looks). This is sickening to me. I can see the effect that smart phones have had on my generation daily, and I am truly terrified to see what it does to the next generation.
I am a culprit myself. I too used to smear on eye liner and post it up all over Facebook with captions that embarrass me to no end now. I also could not step away from my phone to swim without getting out and checking my messages every 10 minutes or so. However, now as a 20-year-old, I urge you all to please step away from your phone for a day. Grow out of the social media phase and use social media for its proper intensions instead of being a victim of an addiction. Outside of the digital world, I enjoy life. The world is such a beautiful place when you go out and see it. On a typical weekend, I go out and enjoy the beautiful state of Texas through hiking, fishing, swimming, and soaking up the sunshine. It really is like having a completely different life.
