A concert-goer captured the despicable moment of another concert-goer using their phone during a performance at Coachella (pictured above). Instead of living in the moment, the concert-goer is distracted by technology and virtually sharing his experience with people online (fred von lohmann/flickr).
As a senior here at Geneseo, I’ve had plenty of time to get to know how college students socialize with each other. Whether it be at an off-campus party, a school related event or any large spectacle, people my age have become increasingly reliant on using social media as a way to connect with each other. In a time where going through Snapchat stories or Instagram posts is a way to see what almost all of your contemporaries are up to, people often forget to stop for a second and just enjoy the moment.
Since the release of the first iPhone by Apple in 2007, people have had the ability to interact with the world from a device small enough to fit into their pockets. This amazing feat of technological innovation has undoubtedly made life easier for those who have access to these devices and has allowed unimaginable levels of connection over great distances.
Now that the year is 2020 and smartphones have progressed dramatically since their 2007 debut; it’s difficult to overlook the numerous advantages that they offer. My observations, however, of how people my age use their phones and how they’re affected by constant connection to the digital world have drastically changed my opinion on what they can do to someone’s personality and habits.
I can recall countless situations that I’ve been in that have made me think to myself, “Why are you on your phone right now?” One of the most prominent examples of this is the incessant bright lights of people’s phones while they record a Snapchat story of whatever is happening in front of them. I can’t begin to imagine how many people I’ve seen at parties doing this, every few minutes pulling their phone out and taking a video.
Another example that comes to mind is how audience members behave at concerts or professional sporting events nowadays. You could be trying to experience your favorite band in person or cheering on your favorite team, only to look around and see hundreds of people experiencing the same thing as you through a screen they’re holding up. Long gone are the days where we had to interact with the people around us at these types of events. Before smartphones, we were forced to introduce ourselves to those sharing the special experience with us. Now we can just reach into our pockets and pull out a connection to the entire world if we get bored.
For me, enjoying a special occasion such as a concert or sporting event involves disconnecting myself from anyone and everyone who isn’t there with me. I don’t feel the need to let the world know what I’m doing and attempt to show them how much fun I’m having. If I’m enjoying myself, I shouldn’t think to pull my phone out and record what’s happening in front of me, because I want a genuine experience.
The problem I see with many people my age is that they value sharing their experiences and fun with people who aren’t present with them more than genuinely living in the moment and making memories. The memories we can make and the enjoyment we can cultivate by not succumbing to the urge to pull out our phones and post our lives on social media far outweigh the satisfaction of someone saying, “Hey where were you last night? That looked like a lot of fun!”
The last aspect of this new societal norm that bothers me is how I perceive it as just plain rude. If I’m with people, I want to focus on them, and I want them to focus on me. For instance, when going out to dinner with a few friends for a birthday or other occasion, I detest when someone pulls out their phone to take a picture for Snapchat, Instagram, etc. Whether being out with people or even just hanging out, I don’t want to see anyone limiting themselves in our interaction because they’re in another world on their phone.
This issue isn’t something that everyone would agree on. Many people have disagreed with me on the negative mental effects that smartphones have on young adults, and I can understand their rationale. I worry, though, about how future generations will learn how to socialize, and how they will value genuine human interactions as opposed to their presence on social media.