Growing up in the world today is different from the world our parents grew up with. Most people own a smartphone, which they can use for directions, shopping, ordering food and much more. Something I have come to realize is that I seem to be relying more on my phone for simple everyday tasks. Our parents did not drive around talking on the phone, listening as Siri tells them where to turn and reading a tweet all at the same time. As a younger generation, have we become too dependent on our phones? I believe that we have.
I do not know if I am being old-fashioned, but there is something about communicating face-to-face that seems right. I can tell what the other person is thinking by their tone or voice or facial expressions. Yes, I know smartphones have the capability to let you see the other person through a camera, but it is not the same as being together in person. Smartphones are pulling the personal touch out of daily life without me even noticing because I am too busy to stop and take in the moment.
Are we putting our time and energy into something that cannot give us what every human needs, physical contact? Think about it. I know personally I take the easy way out and just text someone to let him or her know I am thinking about them. At the same time, I am always thankful for the friends who take time to come see me in person instead of just calling to talk.
Smartphones are a tool. They help people get to where they need to be. Also, they can lead us to take the easy way out. It is a scary thought that some relationships are built off of interactions that only went through a phone. Our world has become so desensitized to in person communication that having a relationship through just a phone is not unheard of. I am not saying that this does not end up working out for some people. It is harder to understand the other person involved when you have never had a face-to-face conversation. It is just different.
After sitting here and thinking about why I rely on my phone so much I am going to consciously work on becoming more personal in my everyday routine. Smartphones are helpful, but they do pull us away from the personal communication that should be so vital in our lives.
