The proliferation of technology in our daily lives has led many of us to believe the only option is either total immersion (selfie-sticks) or total isolation from social media and technology as a whole (dropping everything for a life in the Santa Monica mountains living off berries and dew).
I am among those who believe that while technology is revolutionizing the process by which we share information, its use can cripple our social relationships. It is commonplace for a shuttle to transport silent students who are so immersed in their cell phones that they acknowledge little around them.
I love my phone and everything about it, but I lost my phone to the swimming pool of my apartment in Santa Monica the night before leaving for Christmas break. It was a tragic loss indeed, and my fourth iPhone 4s replacement that year.
As reality sank in, I tried my best to cope with my new phone-less lifestyle. I couldn’t go to the gym without music. I couldn’t communicate in group texts with friends or even text them when I was outside their house to pick them up. And worst of all, I couldn’t Instagram.
During this time, I grew annoyed at how much time friends and family spent on their devices when they were in group situations. Even my 5-year-old niece would rather play on her iPhone than play LEGOs.
But with my schedule freed of the countless hours of mindless scrolling on that tiny screen, I caught myself noticing more details, talking more often and openly, and living in the moment.
My life lacked the social pressures of posting perfect picture, retweeting the funniest tweets and “liking” statuses. Though inconvenient at times, the seven-week hiatus from mobile technology proved to be both cleansing and awakening.
After returning to school for my busy last semester at Pepperdine, I made it about a week before I gave in and purchased an iPhone 6 Plus to be able to communicate with my family back home and stay organized.
Something was different this time, and it wasn’t just the screen size. When I went out, I didn’t want to take pictures and plaster them across the Internet. My life was mine, and my experiences were unique to me. I didn’t need to share every second of my life to feel like I was living.
If you’re bogged down by the pressures of social media and technology, I’m not suggesting a two-month phone fast in hopes of reconnecting with reality. I would wish no such cruelty upon anyone. Rather, I’m suggesting you to take a step back to evaluate your relationship with technology.
Today our devices are made to be so user-friendly that even my 5-year-old niece can use them fully. Inventor of the computer mouse Doug Engelbart believed technology possessed more potential than that of simplifying actions. He argued that if we learn how to use technology to create rather than simplify, we could garner better results.
I can only hope my relationship with my phone becomes healthier as I continue searching for a balance of how to integrate it into my life without allowing it to become my life.
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Follow Alexander Hayes on Twitter: @alexanderjoelx
