Smartphones are changing the world. I love my smartphone and I honestly don’t know how I lived without it for so long. One time I was completely lost in Memphis and I told Siri to take me home and, in her Australian voice, she directed me to Jackson, Miss. When I don’t know what to cook for dinner I Google a recipe. Instead of sending my friends a birthday card, I just have to write on their “walls” to express my thankfulness for their births.
Smartphones are life savers, but they are also the cause of so many physical deaths as well as the demise of many relationships.
According to the National Safety Council, 1.6 million crashes have happened because of cell phone use. Why do we continue to text and drive? Is it because that crash won’t happen to us? I bet that is exactly what the last person who died from texting and driving thought. Or how about, “It will only take a second to read it?” Well, I have news for you. It only takes a second for you to veer out of your lane and injure yourself or others. The use of smartphones is not only killing people on the roads, but they are also contributing to many problems in relationships, and they’re even responsible for ending relationships. I honestly can’t tell you how many times I have walked into a restaurant and seen couples both on their phones, staring at the screens, neglecting each other’s presence. It saddens me that this is actually considered “OK” in our culture.
And now for the “Snapchat” phenomenon. I find this app to be possibly the most annoying app that has come into our culture. I really don’t think people realize how ridiculous they look taking selfies while in the middle of conversations or chapel or lectures. Grow up. Be respectful toward those in front of you. This app has caused more drama than I can even handle. For instance, “She was on his ‘best friend’ list,” or “He didn’t snap me back.” Who cares?
Sometimes I wish that we could all put down our phones and really get to know the people around us for who they are and not by their tweets or Facebook or Instagram posts.
On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the coast as a category 5. By the time it made it to Jackson, Miss., it was a category 2. Our power was out for two weeks. Neither my brother nor I had cell phones at this point, and I am so glad of that. I found these two weeks so special because of all of the memories made. We spent our days helping pack trailers to send to the coast, doing puzzles by sunlight and candlelight, playing games with the family, cooking all of our food on the grill outside and taking cold showers. Oh and no school. As a matter of fact, some of my best memories were when there were no smartphones present, just people.
Although smartphones are life savers, lets just be aware that they can keep you from living the life that you were given.
