I think it is safe to say that a lot of us, especially in the millennial generation, have become essentially addicted to our phones. We get extremely panicked when we misplace it, we basically always have our phone on us,and have started utilizing it in situations when we really do not need to. It is a sad fact that 58 percent of Americans don't go one full hour without checking their phones.
We have become accustomed to devoting so much time on our devices that we actually don't realize how much of our lives we are wasting away looking at tiny screens instead of the world around us. We can no longer do something without the incessant need to document and share it, rather than appreciating the moment in its full capacity and fully enjoying the presence of others.
Social interaction that is completely rid of media related distractions is almost nonexistent. Whether at the dinner table, in bed, at school or even in the bathroom, more and more people are becoming incapable of disconnecting from their phones and social media when conversing with others. Even campgrounds around the country are installing Wi-Fi now so people can stay connected (even though that is completely not the point of going camping in the first place). Checking a phone has become the instant solution to when we are bored, in an awkward situation or when you just don't feel like being social. This is fine in moderation, but the levels of phone obsession that people in today's society is ridiculous.
I was at a restaurant last week and the table next to me was made up of a party of about 10 girls eating lunch together. It was quite the site; not because of the large amount of people, but because every single one of them was on her phone for almost the entirety of their meal. I actually watched in awe as they made the effort to hang out yet were so completely enveloped by social media and totally ignored one another with the rare exceptional chatter about their food. Constant phone use is definitely contributing to the lack of socialization skills that are vital in healthy relationships, as people now actually feel uncomfortable in making conversation with one another.
So, I propose that we all make an effort to unplug every once in a while. It was amazing because the other day I went to a taping of a TV show where they don't let you bring in phones, and people actually socialized with each other and even strangers for the full seven hours we were there. It was nice to see that change. The power of unplugging has many more benefits besides just taking in great experiences and actually socializing, too.
Getting away from your phone can help you be more productive, reconnect with life, get rid of accessible jealousy and the need to compare yourself to others on social media, and can give you much more free time. Considering the typical American spends a whopping average of 4.7 hours a day on his or her phone, think of the amount of time in a year one could be doing much better or productive things with friends and family (basically about 70 days worth of time by the way). Although it's difficult to unplug for an extended period of time because sometimes you have things you definitely need to be connected for, it is important to make an effort to do so when you can every once in a while.
