We have become slaves to our phones.

Think about it. We sit at the lunch tables at school, surrounded by our friends, scrolling through Snapchat stories on our phones. We go home each day, and shortly after arriving at our houses, text our friends to update them on our lives, as if we hadn’t seen them two hours prior. We post posed pictures on Instagram, presenting our lives in the best way possible. We jump each time we hear a ding, indicating an incoming text, and we keep our phones in our hands at all times.

Technology has become a dominating factor in our lives. We have given technology the power to control our lives.

Now, now, don’t get defensive. I am guilty of all of this as well. Using technology is addicting; once you start, you just can’t stop.

Regardless if it does more good or bad, technology has become a very important part of our society, and there is nothing we can do to change that.

That being said, we can’t live our lives hiding behind our technology, specifically our phones. These days, people can do anything on their phones: date, order food, send money, etc. Phones have become so advanced that we don’t need to use verbal communication anymore to be social. Dating, which relies solely on communication between two parties to thrive, is now occurring to some extent without the use of verbal communication at all. Just think for a second about how insane that is.

We think this is crazy, but all that time will bring is more and more advanced technology. Who knows which social aspect of life will be replaced next? We need to outsmart technology.

We can’t replace physical social interaction with technological social interaction. The two types of communication are not the same and will never be. We need to stop thinking that they are.

The other day, I experienced a reality check. I was put into a situation in which I was called out for not texting my friend first. It made me question what constitutes a healthy friendship. Because I don’t text my friend “hey” on the daily, is it justifiable for me to be called a fake friend? The fact that friendships are now at risk of extinction due to an insufficient amount of “first texts” makes me extremely sad.

We are using technology as our main source of communication with friends when we should be talking face to face. Friendships shouldn’t rely solely on technology. A true friendship doesn’t revolve around the amount of texts one receives from their friend, but revolves around their care for one another. A lack of texts does not equal a lack of care; a lack of texts means that the person is busy with their family, or doing homework. Everyone has their own life to live, and we need to be okay with that.

This is just one example of how technology has weaseled its way into our lives, taking over our ability to think logically.

I am ashamed to say that I am a culprit of committing a technological crime. If I go to dinner with my dad, I often find myself with my phone facing upward, in order to get a better view of my notifications.

Why don’t I keep my phone down for the entirety of the meal? What am I so afraid of? Am I afraid that I am going to miss a funny snapchat my friend sent me? Am I afraid of letting my distressed friend down by not responding right away if she is worrying about homework that is due the following day?

Regardless, all of the notifications will still be there when I am done with dinner. It won’t disappear into thin air if I don’t open the Snapchat or message within 30 seconds of receiving it. So, if I know that it will be there when I am done eating, then why does it matter so much for me to have my phone right by my side?

I think that the first step to fixing this problem is acknowledging  it. By becoming more aware, we can nip the problem in the bud.

We are capable of outsmarting technology. I mean, we are the ones with the brains, right? Baby steps are all it takes. Next time I go to dinner with my dad, I am going to keep my phone in my bag. It may be hard, but I’ve had to endure a lot worse.

There are worse things in this world than going without our phones for an hour, or even longer. I encourage everyone to follow in my footsteps, working towards eliminating their technological sins, one day at a time.

I can admit that I have a problem. Can you?