Until I deleted Facebook & Twitter from my phone, I didn’t realize how dependent I had become on them. Throughout the day, I find myself glancing at my cellphone. If it’s not a glance, then I have picked it up in an attempt to search for apps that are not there. I have cut my social media use by about 90%. When I do go onto my desktop and check, I get to see it in another perspective. I have missed absolutely NOTHING important. There isn’t a single like, share or comment important enough for me to have to check my social platforms more than once or twice a day. Scrolling through my feed, I am seeing everyone’s desperation for validation as they upload every activity, thought & meal to their social media. Sentences clearly thought through in an attempt to garner more likes , retweets, shares, etc as far as the eye can see. Some, are simply sharing their lives with family on a private platform, but many are clearly ADDICTED to social media. Do thousands of people really need to know your thoughts every other hour? Probably not. No worries, I used to be that person. Not only with reality TV, but my social networks as well. Looking back, I am getting pretty fucking embarrassed with myself! In 2012, 2015? I was tweeting 5-8 tweets a day. If I could go back and talk to myself then I’d say, “Adri, WHO FUCKING CARES! Get a damn life!” That is exactly it. Our phones are robbing us of our lives.
When did life become like this? 2013? We never even call each other anymore. Some of us get anxiety at the thought of dialing a number. Everyone is big and brave behind their keyboard/camera. However, they balk at the thought of actually having a real conversation with someone. I believe our personal relationships are truly suffering as a result of this. Last night, my friend Lauren and I chatted on the phone for about 1.5 hours. Since my move from LA, she is the number one person I met there who has kept in constant contact with me via spoken word. We discussed how texting , Facebook messenger, DM’s, etc have made friendships very surface things. They have also taken away our ability to really read people. Instead of hashing out our issues and telling people they hurt our feelings, etc, we hide behind our technology. We sit around offended and passive aggressive post shit on our walls, AKA VAGUEBOOKING. We join movements and whine and bitch on our platforms ALL DAY thinking that whining and bitching is making a difference in the world. I believe, technology is stirring us into a negative shit soup.
We have forgotten how to be in the moment in our own lives. We have forgotten to put our technology down sometimes and just LIVE. Look, the idea of Facebook, twitter and Instagram is great. However, anything you have to be on THAT much throughout the day is an ADDICTION. If you cannot get it under control and minimize it, you are an addict. I was a social media addict. I am currently in recovery and discovering just how much of my life I missed out on by being glued to my stupid phone. Now, when I post something online….it is because it is worth posting. It isn’t out of desperation for validation through likes. It’s because I felt like it, not because of some unspoken NEED to. I plan on not downloading those addictive apps to my phone ever again. I am getting outside a LOT more than before. My productivity level has skyrocketed!
This photo swiped off the net. I found it profound. NO ONE is looking at the actual THING. They are ALL looking at THEIR PHONES.
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I went to a concert a few years back, and I realized that I was so preoccupied with getting the video on my phone just right, that I missed out on my favorite song. The one song I wanted to hear more than any other. Several months later I tried to rewatch the video, the quality of it was such crap, that i had to immediately delete it. I missed enjoying a moment because I felt I needed to capture it instead. This picture is what I’d rather be like, the sweet lady right in the front, absorbed in the moment, with out distraction, saving that memory in her mind, not on a device. 😀
Well said!
Sad but true I’m afraid. I use social media for my business and for keeping in touch with family and friends spread all over the country. But. I am not addicted to it. It has it’s purpose and that’s it! I love your insights and comments all the time! 🙂 Thanks! 🙂
So right!! I’m guilty of this, too, though not to the extent of others that I’ve been around. But an addiction is STILL an addiction! About two years Go, I took a photo (on my cell phone, of course..lol) of a mother and her two young children, sitting at a table in a restaurant eating lunch. EACH had their electronic devices in front of them. They barely communicated!! How can you raise quality kids when you can’t even hold a conversation with them?? It was disturbing. I think we ALL need to unplug regularly and focus on what’s right in front of us…our actual LIFE!
Thanks for sharing your story, Adrianne. 🙂
I like that the older woman is watching and the expression on her face seems more joyous.
I find that image telling too, that the only person that isn’t on their phone is older and likely enjoying the experience, whatever that may be, to the fullest extent. I agree that people are more interested in capturing the experience in images and videos to show others their accomplishments. It’s easy to fall into this trap of thinking you’ll revisit that moment on your phone and be there again, but to me at least, a memory is so much more vivid than a cell phone video could ever be, especially when you completely immerse yourself in the experience and really carve out a memory worth remembering. Great blog Adrianne, I’m glad you’re finding happiness away from social media. reading comments on your social media can really be depressing, all the hate and comments to knock you down just because you’re beautiful. People, what a bunch of bastards.
Simply put, this is so refreshing. 4 years ago, I was one of those people who lived in \ on their phones…I seriously would freak out if I didn’t haven’t had cell in my hand, by my bedside, in my car…etc… Then I saw something at a restaurant. I was w my beloved waiting for a table at a restaurant, and also waiting was a family of 4. Every single one of them were nose deep in their cells and it continued into actual dinner service. I thought wow….here’s a family, w zero communication. What happened with actual conversation “hey, how was your day, how was school, etc”. It was sad to see, and then I realized that I was guilty of the same thing. It changed after that. I still have a cell, but there are rules. Life is too damn short. I agree w you 100%. Go outside, take a hike, or even a walk around the block. Take in the scenery, and spend time conversing with your loved ones. One day they may not be there, and you’ll regret the time you have to your cell…and not them!
It is crazy. I notice it at my job. Every single person including management are buried in their phones(when there is a strict “no phone policy”) I actually leave my phone AT HOME when I leave for work. Im the only person who focuses on my job and not take selfies or text all day. Maybe one day ill just noticed for it. If not oh well. It is a long part of my day I dont have screen time and I feel healthier for