I remember holding my very first phone at the age of 12 and being ecstatic about being able to talk to my friends on social media platforms.
But if I had been aware of the negative consequences of owning a cell phone at a younger age, I might have been more mindful of my social media use today.
Now, at 23, I find it challenging to communicate with people without getting emotional, even with those I know well.
Being media-dependent has caused many issues in my life.
Overall, I find myself preferring to communicate with my friends and family on social media platforms because that’s all I’m familiar with.
Over the past 15 years, social media has become the normalized way of communication in our society.
With a few clicks of a button, we can connect with friends and family at any time and from anywhere in the world, but how can we develop better communication skills behind a screen?
The answer is you can’t.
Lack of understanding of verbal and non-verbal cues
According to Helpguide.org, verbal and non-verbal cues, including body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, are essential parts of communication.
The absence of these in our daily lives would lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings.
As a result, communicating behind a screen makes it difficult to gauge and interpret these communication cues because we aren’t in the physical presence of others, where they are most prominent.
A study conducted by PubMed Central found that people who do not engage in face-to-face interactions are more likely to feel isolated.
In the early years of adolescence, many teens have been overexposed to technology at a young age and, as a result, have missed out on the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to communicate effectively with society.
Physical and mental health issues
With our technology becoming more advanced and accessible, it has become socially acceptable for children as young as 12 to have a cell phone.
In 2022, 95 percent of teens had access to cellphones, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.
The overexposure of technology at an early age can lead to significant physical and mental health problems.
According to PubMed Central, the prolonged use of technology can cause adolescents to lose track of the amount of time they spend on their devices, leading to sleep deprivation, poor posture, eyestrain, depression, and anxiety.
Excessive cell phone use can also cause adolescents to become overly attached to their phones, missing out on regular childhood experiences and activities.
According to PubMed Central, children who are exposed to more natural environments, such as outdoor activities, attain better language skills and have better self-esteem and confidence than those who don’t interact outside.
Additionally, technology has been proven to delay cognitive development. PubMed Central found that excessive screen time use can affect adolescents’ ability to engage in face-to-face interactions, leading them to feel isolated from the outside world.
Tips on how to manage cell phone use
Keep track of your screen time
Most phones have the ability to track how much time you spend per day.
Setting a goal for yourself allows you to track how much time you spend on your device and helps you stay accountable for achieving it.
Delete time-wasting apps or use screen limits
Binge-scrolling apps like TikTok or Instagram that are just for entertainment are slowly “rotting” your brain. Instead, remove apps or set screen limits. That way, you are tracking how much time you spend scrolling.
Outside activities
Indulge in a good book or spend time you would be spending on these apps on hobbies or activities you enjoy doing.
In a world where it’s easy to get lost in social media use, we often lose our ability to stay connected with the people around us.
Personally, social media keeps me behind on daily activities and tasks, as well as being able to converse with other people.
Looking back on it, social media is nothing but a mere distraction and is a platform that I and many others don’t utilize to the best of their abilities.