“To be or not to be? That is the question.”You might wonder whether Hamlet would be so indecisive today, when he could simply post his problems online immediately via his phone or plainly asked Siri what to do. Taking into account the way advanced phone technology has changed our lives one is bound to ask are we Smartphone-obsessed? Now, that is the question.
Have You Noticed Anything Strange?
It seems that wherever you want to go nowadays, you cannot go without your fateful companion – Smartphone. Well, who needs to talk to other people when all the fun is at the touch of a finger, right? Do people really think this way? Considering that more and more cafes are turning off their Wi-Fi and placing signs that promote actual conversations, one simply has to wonder what has happened to modern people when someone has to tell us to just talk to each other.
A Double-Edged Sword
No doubt that it is true that Smartphones changed a lot of things to the better. We can take perfect pictures, film videos of whatever we want, go online, post everything immediately, use GPS, listen to music, play games, etc. Possibilities are endless and we can put a stop to boredom at any time and any place with this magical device. But that is the core of the problem. Where is that fine line that turns a useful device into human enslaver? Yes, we can take pictures and film videos, but what caused the issue of doing that when someone actually needs our help or while ignoring the inappropriateness of the situation? We can go online and search for all the information we need but why do this all the time when you are together with someone else? We can use GPS but what will make you realize that you actually would not know your way around without it? Some say that addiction to Smartphones is real but rare, but the actual problem is to define what really counts as a Smartphone addiction.
The Reality Of Smartphone Obsession
The truth is that we do not really have a Smartphone obsession. No one needs to phone or text other people all the time, which is the main purpose of any phone, even a smart one. The problems began much sooner with emerging of social networks of all kinds. People who grew up before all this can at least try to remember what it was like and function properly in everyday life, but the youth is the one suffering most from this problem because they do not know any other way to be cool and accepted unless they get enough likes, tweets, followers or whatever other kind of personal satisfaction there is. Even taking a selfie has become an institution of its own kind. There is nothing wrong with taking a photo of yourself but is it really necessary to share every little thing that you do in the form of a picture? Waking up in the middle of the night to check your phone today does not mean that you are awaiting someone to contact you, but for someone to recognize you, which is the main issue of today’s approval-hungry society.
It is perfectly fine to use your Smartphone however you like. Communicate online, share your opinions and pictures, film things that you find interesting, etc. Still, if you feel like your arm is missing or even the attack of anxiousness coming up when you are parted with your phone, it might be clever to consider asking other people who seem not to feel this way for help. Most importantly, ask yourself what is the thing that makes you so attached to this combo of virtual and technological world that the lack of the same for a short period of time causes such discomfort.
