Every single person within eye-shot on my rush-hour train was on their mobile phone, laptop or tablet. This made me feel as though I too should be looking at something just to blend in… and so I did.
However, I quickly ran out of stuff to do as it mostly involved scrolling aimlessly through social media sites – liking, swiping, following and unfriending (😜😂 Sorry if that was you).
It felt like copious amounts of useless dribble. So I decided to indulge my curiosities in a cheeky spot of ‘screen-watching’ to see what all the fuss was about.
It soon hit me that most people were doing the exact same thing that I was – aimlessly scrolling through their phones to pass time when they really didn’t need to use them.
- A more serious problem..
“Nomophobia” is said to be the fear of being without a mobile phone.
Mobile phones, like basically every man-made invention, have several side effects when abused including withdrawal symptoms, text neck and using them to deal with unwanted emotions (check this link for more smartphone addictions).
Essentially, our mobiles – which were created to make communication easier – have made us more reclusive, self-centred and agitated.
If you’re anything like me, you probably pat yourself down in agitation at the slightest opportunity to make sure your phone is on you.
- So what now..?
I’m no medical expert (so please I beg do not quote me) but even I can draw links between socio-communicative breakdown and mobile phone addiction.
From a small scale domestic setting, where babies can’t settle unless they have a phone to play with, to a wider community that doesn’t interact, something needs to change.
One helpful recommendation, as suggested by Psych Guides is to download an app to limit your phone usage. This and consciously choosing to disconnect are among several other recommendations. Check the link for more info.
Ironically, I wrote all this on my phone whilst on the train. Ah well..
