At any time of day or night, take a look around campus and you will see that a majority of students are using their phones. Think back to the last time you were out with your friends. How much time did you spend on your cell phone? Did it distract you from what was going on around you? When used appropriately, a phone can be a fantastic resource. With just a click of a button you can share even the smallest details of your life with your closest friends. Phones allow us to project the best version of ourselves. They give us time to consider our responses and enable us to feel connected to others 24/7. When we feel uncomfortable, lonely, or bored, we simply reach for our phone, open an app, and surround ourselves with a network of people. Unfortunately, many of us are developing an unhealthy dependence on our phones.
In Sherry Turkle’s Ted Talk, “Connected, but alone?” she coins the phrase “alone together,” which perfectly describes this widespread phenomenon. Phones allow us to isolate ourselves without truly being alone. As a result, people are finding it more and more difficult to practice everyday communication skills vital to social and professional survival. We no longer have to commit to speaking to just one person or worry about awkward pauses, embarrassing stutters, or emotional conversations. As cell phones continue to erode that art of face-to- face conversation, many may begin to lose the ability to maintain eye contact, read facial expressions, or understand tone.
The mere act of checking your phone when out with friends sends a message that you are uninterested in spending time with them or value the company of another more. People are finding it more difficult to simply be present in the moment. When one engages in a face-to-face conversation, they practice skills that will not only help them in their personal life but also their professional life. For instance, eye contact, reading facial cues, and listening skills are all vital for a successful interview. One who has not practiced face-to-face communication will be at a distinct disadvantage in the job market.
Cell phones have also started to impact students’ attention spans. In fact, one Seattle Preparatory School teacher I spoke with noted that he has to assign less reading now than he did five years ago because of the growing number of distractions brought about by technology. Many cannot sit through class without at least thinking about their phones. Some even feel phantom vibrations when they are away from their device.
Worried that you too might be suffering from cell phone dependence? The first step to kicking this habit is recognizing that you have a problem. Now all you have to do is schedule some phone free time with your girls (or guys) and experience the joys of being present in the moment. Although spending even a second away from your phone may sound unbearable, if you are spending time with the right people you should have a blast!