After reflecting on my relationship with technology, I believe that it is unhealthy. I know “unhealthy” can mean something completely different to another person because everyone has their limits and strengths of addictions to technology, but, personally, think I need to step back. I do agree that technology is a very useful tool that allows us to answer questions but most of the time, people are not using their phones for education but entertainment. There is very little education but more boredom. The constant need to be entertained is sickening my generation.
My generation can’t spend a single minute not doing something. It is like boredom has become a fear. Any second a person has while they are waiting in line, going to the bathroom, or even having a conversation with someone, a person will take out their phone. I love listening to stand-up comedy and I remember hearing this interview with Louis C.K. about technology. Although there are many allegations against him, I thought the conversation that he had with Conan O’Brien was very interesting. He talks about how this new generation is impatient and ungrateful of the easiness of technology. Although I do not believe that this generation is terrible, I agree that our attention spans make diminished. Here is the video:
A part of me wants to delete my social media, especially Instagram. I have had an Instagram since I was 12 because that’s what was cool to have in middle school. Instagram has felt like a trap for me at times and as years go on, technology has become smarter and smarter, knowing how to catch your eye with “stories” and “reels” (which are basically small videos that are highly addictive). Don’t get me wrong. I love to see what my friends post and they like to see mine; it allows people to feel involved in my life even when I haven’t seen or talked with them in a while. I just have found that when I am waiting in line or relaxing, I will randomly watch meaningless videos. The videos are interesting but I waste so much time staring at this screen when I could be doing way more productive things. It’s precious time I could be learning and living.
Just today, I was on Snapchat and realized that I had streaks (when you snap someone every day, creating a streak) with people I barely talk to. Yes, they are my friends, but I went out of my way to snap them even though I didn’t really care. I am tired of being tricked by my phone. I know people who will stalk their exes and crushes on snap chat. It’s too easy to know too much about someone nowadays. I could go on snap maps and find out where they are. I could go on my Spotify a see what the last song they were listening to. I could see when the last time they were active on any social media platform. It’s too much. I don’t like that power.
I don’t think I am as obsessed with my phone as some people, but to me, I want to lessen my media time. Sometimes I worry that I am using it as an escape so I don’t have to think about stuff. I know a lot of people who do that. I checked my phone about three times while writing this blog. Not because it buzzed, but because my brain thinks I need to check. I think it's because the serotonin that I get from a notification is addictive. I think if we all didn’t have our phones for a day, some people in my generation wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. I think I need to find some time away from my phone so I can breathe, think, and absorb life. I don’t want to waste my time here staring at a screen as my emotions slowly turn numb.
Citations:
(Photos)
Correspondant, Free Press Journal. “How Technology Invades the Human Mind.” Free Press Journal, www.freepressjournal.in/cmcm/how-technology-invades-the-human-mind.
Zielinski, Lisa. “Louis CK Everything Is Amazing And Nobody Is Happy.” Youtube, 16 Nov. 2016, youtu.be/nUBtKNzoKZ4.
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