Today, more and more kids are growing up with a smart device in hand. I’ve seen toddlers navigate through YouTube more efficiently than I can. I think parents are relying too much on these devices to keep their children occupied.
According to a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 60% of parents say their child began interacting with a smartphone before turning 5 years old. In this group, 31% had been introduced to phones before age 2. Some children under 12 years old (17%) have their own device.
I remember getting my first cellphone when I was 15 years old. This was before the world of social media. Times were a lot different. My phone was an idiot compared to today’s smartphones. We just texted and the calling was free after a certain time. (Great memories.) The first iPhone had just been released and was ready to set the world ablaze.
The Paradigm Shift
In the last decade, we have become so dependent on technology. It’s like an addiction for most people. We need it. Our eyes are constantly glued to our phones every day. Unfortunately, we put ourselves in this position, but we tend to blame the tech companies for “manipulating” us into using their products.
It’s very similar to how we blame fast-food chains for the obesity crisis in America. Junk food isn’t intended to be eaten every day. Everyone knows that it’s not healthy, but people still consume it on a daily basis. Most of us allow our bad habits to dictate our lives.
The real problem, nowadays, is that we’re shifting the blame on others rather than taking accountability. It helps us feel better about our misfortunes. We need this positive reinforcement, that it’s not our fault, to sleep better at night.
This is an unhealthy way of thinking. We need to change our mindset in order to see progression. Change is difficult, but it’s necessary to grow into a better person.
3 Steps to Making a Change
- Admit that you have a problem. There’s something holding you back and you know it. For example, I used to spend a lot of time behind a screen as a teenager into my young adult years. I watched the years fly by as my friends started to graduate from college and begin their lives. It made me feel like a loser. I felt stuck in one place with no real idea of what to do.
- Make a commitment. I needed a digital detox to get my life back on track. I stopped playing video games and deleted most of my social media accounts. It was difficult at first. I felt very disconnected from the world, but this limited the number of distractions to keep me focused.
- Keep your eyes on the prize. This is obviously easier said than done. It’s a constant uphill battle. You need to be fully committed to your goal. It must be attainable to keep you motivated. Most importantly, you have to believe in yourself.
In Conclusion
People love to blame big business for all the problems in the world. I’m not saying they’re all saints but, the issue is that we’re not holding ourselves accountable. Society would rather stare at the sun instead of looking into a mirror. We all have the ability to make a change, but it starts with you.
Johann Hari. Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again. New York, Crown, 2021.
Auxier, Brooke, et al. “Children’s Engagement with Digital Devices, Screen Time.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, 28 July 2020 https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/childrens-engagement-with-digital-devices-screen-time/
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