Do you remember the time when one actually played outside, or met up with friends and actually spoke, or when people actually had physical communication and did not hide behind the screens of their phones all day long? Those days no longer exist. Instead, today much of the Western population, youth especially, spend their time behind the screens of their phones rather than face-to-face. Blackberries, iPhones and all other media devices have become an addiction for many.
For all the youth currently reading this, what’s the longest time you’ve gone without checking your phone? Once youth see the flashing light that indicates you have a message, BBM, Facebook or Twitter notification, they have the sudden urge to grab their phones and check them. Personally, I can admit that I have OCD about it. Every time my phone lights up, I have to check it immediately. Furthermore, phones are no longer just phones, they now link us with the internet, causing more of an addiction as we have access to our Facebook accounts, e-mails or Twitter accounts. It is true that having everything bundled up into a little device that fits into the palm of your hands is convenient, but it’s also a source of a problem. Sources show that the literacy skills of youth today have gone down, as many youth resort to the slang they use on Facebook or BBM. Furthermore, spelling skills have gone down, as spellcheck is always available. In addition, obesity rates are increasing as the amount of time children spend engaging in physical activity is decreasing. So the question becomes, is the convenience really worth the losses?
Personally, every time I enter my younger cousin’s house, the first thing he does is grab my phone – and strangely enough, he knows how to work it better than I do. In addition, when I was growing up I got my first phone at age 16 and I was lucky to get it “that young”. Today, my nine-year-old cousins have Blackberries and iPhones. With that said, my nine-year-old cousins spend their time inside their homes, playing hockey on their phones, or texting their friends rather than playing hockey outside with their friends.
Personally, I think a stand has to be made and I will start it; no longer will I be as dependant on my phone as before. I promise that when I am with my friends, I will spend time with my friends and not my phone.