In a recent piece by columnist David Pope, he argued the importance of getting out and enjoying nature rather than constantly turning to technology. I am in full agreement with Pope and would like to add to his argument by urging readers to take a step back from their technological lives and really assess their technological usage.
There are approximately 310 million people in the United States. A recent survey published in Business Insider reports that of those, 235 million Americans use a mobile device. Whats more is that there are 165 million active Android and Apple OS devices in the United States.
It is not uncommon to walk through campus and find students eyes glued to their screens. I fall prey to checking for text messages as well, though I have not yet given in to peer pressure and bought a smartphone.
Yet, in this day and age, the convenience of having a smartphone is undeniable. You can check your email, scroll through your Facebook newsfeed, post to Twitter or catch up on the latest news or celebrity story all in a matter of seconds.
The technological age we live in has helped shape modern life in a way that had never before been dreamt of before. The evolution was a fast one, and it continues to bring about new forms of communicating, educating, working, traveling and so much more. Connectivity and access to this constant stream of information is beneficial, but it also begs the question of necessity.
I was recently assigned a 24-hour e-media fast for a class. The time spent away from technology was liberating. Without cell phones, computers and iPods taking up my time, I was able to enjoy what really matters in my life such as my friends, family and nature.
While I do agree that these technological advances can and should be embraced, I urge others to step back and assess their own personal usage maybe even do your own fast.
Some users are so engrossed in their online presence that they often become enslaved to the device. In this enslavement, the natural and brilliant things in life are taken advantage of.
We are not meant to live through the image of a glowing screen. We are meant to enjoy it up close, and these gadgets are often a distraction from the real world. The walls of technology confine consumers, and while constant access to technology is convenient, it is also unnecessary.
We need to learn to step out of our digital comfort zone and confront the world in person rather than behind a keyboard. I advocate turning toward an unplugged life by disconnecting from technology and connecting to things of real importance.
