When I walk into my Spanish classroom, the first task of the block for me and my classmates is always to put our phones in the corresponding numbered holder at the front of the room.
During the last 2 minutes of class, we are allowed to get our phones again. The second we are told we can, the entire class immediately stands up to push through the rows of desks to swarm around the phone caddy.
I’m certainly guilty of it too, and how could we not all be? The various social media platforms most high school students have access to and use regularly are designed to be addictive.
Take TikTok, for example. TikTok makes a majority of its revenue based on advertising according to The Business Analyst. This platform is essentially banking on people doomscrolling, and spending excessive amounts of time on social media.
Social media addictions can not only affect one’s productivity, attention span, risk for depression and anxiety, but also one’s relationships, according to Social Media Victims Law Center.
Social connections are absolutely essential to a healthy mind. As someone who has gone between having big and small friend groups or even just having a handful of individual friends, I can say I have been significantly happier, more motivated and healthier mentally when I have been able to make connections with others in person.
There is a difference between the genuinity of in person and digital relationships. Online, it is much harder to tell if someone is being their true, honest self. People are not limited in regards to posting whatever they want online, which can greatly affect friendships.
I’ve made many new friends during the start of the school year. These people have become huge parts of my life, and I would not have known they even existed if I hadn’t chosen to speak with new people face-to-face instead of checking my social media accounts in those last silent minutes of each class.
Some of my favorite memories come from times spent with friends when we decided to put our phones away and just enjoy the moment. Whether it was the time at a concert or making s’mores on a late summer night, the moments I remember and truly value do not include a digital connection.
It is essential that we push for more interaction in the real world. We cannot sit back as it becomes less and less common to see people communicating in a way that is not electronic. In this era of exponential digital growth, we must remember the extensive benefits of staying grounded in person over being online.
With 2 minutes left in the block, turn to your peers over your devices. Have conversations face-to-face above phone-to-phone. Make connections with people rather than connections to the internet.
