Everything in this day and age has gone digital. You can check in to see what the rest of the world is up to at any given moment in the day. We document our lives in photos and 140 characters or less. We live in a technological world, and we should stop criticizing those who embrace it.
To say that we should embrace the technology in our life is not to say that we should substitute genuine kindness and personality. It is not to say that we should excuse any ill behavior that comes from the use of technology- like using a phone during a conversation- but we do have to accept that it is a part of our world now. You have to be reading this on a phone, tablet, or computer, because it's published online. Odds are you have one of those on you at all times. That's how the world is now.
Young adults are constantly being criticized for their use of technology in media. Too often have I seen the phrase "Millennials these days...." followed by some criticism about how we're always on the internet. Yet, that's how our world works now! Everything is online, everything is digital, and we should be getting used to that. Many times, I find myself being ashamed or self conscious about the fact that I'm on my phone in public, even though I'm doing something practical and important, like checking my bank account or letting my family know I'm okay (You know, the life of a college student). I shouldn't have to feel that way, though. Things like phones and the internet were literally invented to help make navigating the world a little easier- so why do we criticize those that take advantage of these benefits?
The mentality to say that, "things were better when..." just isn't fair. There will always be things about the past that we love and miss, but that doesn't mean that we should snub the present. Things change, and the world will always evolve. Different does not always mean bad, and just because the world tends to move into another direction that we may not understand doesn't mean that it's getting worse. We will always claim that things were better when "the sunset was our curfew, and we only played outside", but that doesn't mean that kids who are growing up with tablets and I-Pods are at risk of a doomed childhood. That is all they know, it's not their fault. They will just experience life differently than we have.
The digital age has allowed us to live life more efficiently, opening up so many doors to new opportunities and knowledge that we may not have had access to otherwise. Just having a laptop throughout high school allowed me to do research and learn things that a textbook alone couldn't provide. Having a phone, or access to things like skype, allowed me to stay in contact with others at all times, making things like school projects accessible outside of the classroom, improving efficiency. It's what allows me to stay in contact with friends and family from 9 hours away, how I can keep up with other creators and artists around the world. Technology has allowed us to do some amazing things.
Will there always be distractions and downsides to technology? Of course. Will there always be people that abuse it? Unfortunately, yes. However, just because something is new and different, doesn't mean that it's bad. Just because some bad habits come from it, doesn't mean the whole institution is flawed. We live in a digital age, and we should start embracing it.
