By: Lilith Coryell Jenkins

Technology can be a blessing. The doors that have been opened, and will continue to open, for our developing society are truly incredible. Innovations in this field have shaped and molded our world into what it is today, from the first printing press of around 1440, Edison’s 1879 lightbulb, all the way up until our holy grail, the cell phone. The cell phone has become an invaluable tool for people today. It allows us to communicate with one another instantaneously, gives us access to virtually any piece of information in the world, and can even do such amazing things as track how deeply we sleep. However, as cellphones have become less of a novelty and more of a necessity, have they started to hinder us as much as help us?

When asked about the issue, senior Shanee Krebs said that because of cell phones, we now tend to lack face to face conversations and even the most important discussions now can take place over text. But do these issues really get resolved? There’s something valuable about saying difficult things in person and being able to see someone’s face and get an immediate response. Face to face interactions allow people to speak from the heart without going over their composed texts over and over again to make sure that they sound perfect. This can often remove the raw emotion from human interaction. Another issue that was brought up by senior Benjamin Keer is that people have developed a need to be constantly connected. It is hard for us to be idle and do nothing. Most people tend to hide behind their phone in an uncomfortable situation or even just while waiting for a friend. My mother who possesses far more wisdom than I do, often tells me how important it is to be aware in the present moment and said that “cell phones only further perpetuate our inability to do so.”

When I first began mulling over this issue, a particular person who has became very aware of her cell phone consumption immediately sprang to my mind. She often turns her phone off to force herself to disconnect and focus her attention on the world in front of her, whether that be her family, her homework, or just to be alone with herself. Ironically, I called her up with the hopes that she could tell me about her experiences. I didn’t get an interview out of her, but in a way I got something more valuable, my call went straight to voicemail