Freshman staff writer Jordan Butler weighs the pros and cons of technology and believes that people experience things more through the lens of their phones, rather than through the present. Cartoon by Ashley Lawrence.
By JORDAN BUTLER – Staff Writer
As technology and smartphones grow in prevalence, people are becoming too preoccupied with social media to actually appreciate what is happening in the present.
Most people have witnessed others glued to their phones for hours at a time. In fact, 78 percent of teens own cell phones. In turn, smartphones and social media have expanded over the last couple years and teens social habits have grown weaker.
According to a study done by USA Today, “As more generations are born into the social age, social media will continue to be the favored communication form among young people. However, this shift may begin to affect their ability to properly communicate in person with peers.
Pew Research Center reports that in 2015, 71 percent of teens used Facebook, 52 percent used Instagram and 41 percent used Snapchat. Instead of making in-person relationships, many teens rely on social media to communicate.
Although, this may benefit students because of its convenience, it often causes teens to not live in the moment.
I have seen technology at school events preoccupy students. Many won’t even look up from their phones even if the winning goal is being scored. Students miss out on life changing opportunities because of their reliance of technology.
I even find myself using technology often, especially when I attend sporting events, concerts and even when I attended my Mom’s graduation. I regret missing out on important events for my family because I was playing on my phone.
Putting technology away and actually performing other activities is healthy, and it can lead to better social skills. A LiveStrong study says, “Participating in sports and recreation provides kids to seniors with an opportunity to meet and build relationships with others.” Personally, I have grown socially ever since I started exercising and going to workout classes.
Looking forward, I hope to separate myself from these ingrained habits. I don’t want to miss out on memories because I am looking through Instagram or using Snapchat. I want to be able to look at life through my eyes, instead of a lens.
