I got up early today because I had an appointment at the car dealership at 7:30 a.m. There’s a recall on our car. It was at risk of catching on fire, so I took the first appointment I could get.
My husband and I went for a walk in our neighborhood at 6:15 a.m. and I saw something that disturbed me greatly. At our little park a few blocks from our house there were a dozen kids waiting for the bus. They were all looking down at the their phones and nobody was talking to each other. They were all about six feet apart and I guess that’s a good thing? But the lack of interest in each other and their focus on their phones bothered me. They all looked very depressed.
What the heck is this generation going to be like in a few years? I know my kids hate to make phone calls. They never pick up the phone without trying to use a webpage, email or text first. But when they are around their peers, they don’t ignore each other. They joke and have fun together. They light up.
When I was a kid, I also had to walk to a bus stop. I walked with my brother and we’d laugh and talk and kick a rock during the quarter mile walk. Then we’d chat with the other kids at our bus stop. On the bus, we’d all be talking, laughing or singing songs.
I found this group of kids so depressing to see. They seemed isolated. Alone. Glued to their phones. I wonder if this is a result of the COVID shut down? Or, would they be like this anyway? Any thoughts? Have you noticed kids acting like this, too?
I guess the good news is they are going to school in person, right? Maybe it’s the start of a new school year and they’re not happy?
I was noticing this too as I was in the city recently. Young people were walking, and staring at their phones.
I do agree that their ways of interacting are changing.
My concern also is how looking at screens emitting blue light is going to affect their vision in years to come.
Researchers are currently studying this. 🤗
My daughter brought up the blue screens issue to me. She said it also interrupts sleep patterns.
Mental health because of lockdown is horrible. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The after effects of this past year will be far greater than the actual event
I really think this past year or so will have long term consequences.
Ever watch the movies “Broken Arrow” with John Travolta? Great line in the movie: When talking about a “Broken Arrow” (losing a nuclear weapon), the government guy said “It scares me that it happens so often it has a name”. Well, with that said, it scares me that what you are talking about happens so often it has a name: Phone Zombie.
I haven’t seen that movie, but I like John Travolta. Phone zombie is great term but a scary generation.
They are controlled by their electronics, so whomever controls electronic flow of information wins. Right out of Orwell’s 1984. That is what we are seeing. Almost hypnotism.
It’s crazy. I was thinking of 1984 the other day with the walls that were TVs and the devices in everyone’s ears.
I try sometimes to say Hi and smile at the teenagers at the bus stop. Some respond and some immerse themselves in their iphone. “Phone Zombie” yes, but I believe that they will move past the phone one day but you know, some adults haven’t left their phone behind either. We are all a little guilty of this.
We did smile and say hi but nobody responded. I am guilty of being on my phone too much. But I fear these kids are going to lack in social communication skills.
Yes, they don’t always respond to me, either. I am not a phone person or look up sports stat or newsperson or text my friend. Not me. Same with my brothers. It is hard to get them on the phone-must run in my DNA. Often I just turn my phone off which drives some people crazy but I am trying to be more text savvy.
I’m a texter. I used to be more of a talker though.
I am not a texter. Last year, I worked with an admin who texted me my job review. It drove me crazy. Every time we went to a meeting, someone would tell me hold up your phone to scan in a code and something would download. The funny part is most of the time it did not download.
A text review doesn’t sound right…
You are right-it does not. Duly noted.
My 16 year old son is the same way. Always glued to his phone. Seems like he won’t do anything without checking with his friends first. I do like when he actually talks to them, they have karaoke phone calls, it’s cute.
I make him have time without his phone daily as well so that he remembers life is not all online.
That sounds smart to have time away from the phone. Karaoke calls sound fun!
It’s great until it’s midnight and he’s singing away while I’m trying to sleep. I never stop him though because I’m happy he’s having fun
I wouldn’t stop that either!
Social media affects everyone, promoting anxiety and depression, especially in teens. I got my 1st flip phone at the age of 18 and at age 20 I got a phone with WhatsApp. I didn’t have Instagram until age 21 and it took me years to learn how to not get too addicted to it and I’m still dependant on my phone for many things but I keep it in check so I don’t get too addicted. Teens don’t have that self-control. They’re going through so many changes already and phones make it worse. My husband’s niece is almost 14 and her parents got her a phone a month ago. She says she is already addicted to it (and I can tell) and she is depressed most of the time.
I agree that social media and phones can make anxiety and depression worse. Teens are especially vulnerable. I’m sorry about your niece.