Lately, it seems the only source of light comes from the fluorescent glow of the classroom or the screens on computers and phones. This may seem extreme, but after being stuck inside for two or more months due to the harsh weather conditions, it is an understatement to say the sun and warm weather are missed. Needless to say, the snow has created some less than ideal situations. It has also greatly increased feelings of boredom and isolation.

Being trapped inside all day limits what can be done during free time. Turning to social media is one attempt to cure boredom and connect with people when the weather serves as a divider. The technology available today allows individuals to communicate easily when apart. However, what happens when this technology starts to override actual face-to-face communication?

Cell phones and social media can give the illusion that there are always people around and available to talk to. With the click of a few buttons, two people can have a conversation without any complications. However, without looking into someone’s eyes when talking to them, or hearing their voice, the conversations can feel less intimate. The raw human emotion that arises from stimulating topics of discussion is absent when speaking through texts. This is not to say that texting lacks depth of discussion, but it does disable a person from experiencing conversation in its truest form.

Fewer people make the effort to go out of their way and communicate in person. This is not any individual’s fault, it has become the norm now. For example, while taking public transportation, most people have their eyes down and on a screen. Rarely do people try to make conversation with each other. If they do, it would be considered abnormal for it to get past “How are you today?” In this way screens can be an obstruction, preventing people from interacting.

It has become a habitual action now to check phones for messages and notifications. Pull up one message, check a friend’s status, reply to a message, recheck status updates, etc. Bombarded by an overflow of information, it is difficult to center one’s attention towards a specific topic. The constant information stream causes attention spans to decrease. With so much available knowledge within reach, it is easy to get sucked into the repetitive loop of searching and checking.

Introspection is key towards growing as an individual. Does technology block this self-analysis as well? Occasionally it is important to separate from social media and take time to focus on other things. Without the constant distraction, there is more time available. Instead of taking out the phone to share current whereabouts, enjoy the moment without any diversions.

With the constant exposure of people’s lives through social media, it is important to have some memories that exist solely in the minds of those who experience them. Technology is a wonderful thing, but it is important to acknowledge that it is unnecessary in certain situations.