I love being connected on my cell phone: Facebook, Messenger, little games, emails, and so on. One evening, though, it hit me: screens are everywhere, and most of us have become dependent on them. Take away someone’s cell phone, TV, tablet, or computer for just one day, and I swear panic will set in.
Back in the day, we used to go outside to play when we were young; we had the imagination to make up our own games, and we had social skills. When I look at what youth is like today, it scares me! I’m from the generation that saw the rise of technology, but we were still able to go outside to play and talk to our friends face-to-face. Sending kids outside to play today is like starting a new world war. Is there anything more disheartening than seeing young people sitting together, each one glued to their cell phone?
It’s so easy to put kids in front of a screen—it lets us get through our endless to-do lists without being too disturbed. Kids no longer have any imagination; they’re used to being constantly stimulated by screens, and they cry because they don’t know what to play when they’re not in front of a screen. What’s more, their social skills are significantly weaker; we ourselves, as parents, aren’t setting a good example and are often on our cell phones during dinner or while our kids are talking to us. Screens have to be on: we turn on the TV even if we aren’t really watching it—it’s become a habit.
You might not see what I’m talking about, because it’s hard to take a step back and admit it—we’ve become like addicts, hooked on technology. I’m going to try very hard to make some changes for myself. If I’ve been able to plant a little seed in your mind that helps you unplug a little, too, then great; if not, oh well. Everyone is in control of their own choices, but it’s sometimes good to take a step back along the way.