I was at a baby shower over the weekend, and very casually I whipped out my phone and started Snap-chatting with one of those hilarious filter images that can either make you look like a goddess or like a bee or something very abstract. Whilst laughing with a friend at our funny Snapchat filters, I saw a few people look at us like we were crazy.
Then I thought about it for a moment:
“Two girls staring at their phones, laughing uncontrollably, pulling faces and posing in strange positions …at a baby shower.”
Yip, we probably did look crazy. We were so involved in what we were doing, that we didn’t realise the eyes that were on us. You see it all the time, especially in public. Friends snapping happy selfies with selfie sticks, Snap-chatting, and doing impromptu photo shoots in public. Others are totally absorbed in their social media accounts, or are playing Pokémon Go until the early hours of the morning.
We are living in a very progressive tech age at the moment. Soon everything is going to be doable and accessible just by the click of a button. There are definite pros and cons when it comes to living in the tech age.
PROS OF TECH-AGE LIVING
- It can be a creative outlet
- It’s fun
- It connects you with others online
- It’s a great marketing tool
- Everything is more accessible
CONS OF TECH AGE LIVING
- We are absorbed on our phones
- We are less social in person
- Can’t hold long conversations
- Easily distracted
- Exclude others unintentionally
- Missing moments, due to not being present with others
- Disconnected from loved ones, because we’re always on our phones.
I love technology, and I love using my phone for various reasons. It’s a creative outlet for me. It keeps me connected to others online, and it’s a great tool for researching on the go. However, I don’t want it stop or distract me from being social in person or being present in the moment. That may mean being mindful of screen time, and trying to balance being on my phone with putting it away whenever I am with loved ones.
Do you think we are way too consumed with being on our phones, as opposed to be present with others in person? What are your thoughts? I would love to know!