Do you know the statistics on phone usage?

The average American spends approximately 5 hours and 16 minutes on their phones every day.

EVERY. DAY.

That’s over half of a work day. Insane. And it gets worse.

Did you know that 42% of kids have smartphones by 10 years of age? 10!! Do you know what I was doing at 10 years old? Playing with Barbies. Making potions out of water and leaves and grass. Riding my bicycle at the closest park. 

Now, I know that times have changed. I’m not that old. This is not some we walked uphill both ways in the snow kind of essay. I get it. The world is online. 

But … is the world really better off because of it? 

In some ways, the answer is a resounding YES. For example, I’m at home right now – wee hours of the morning – working. This flexibility has absolutely improved my life. And there are other ways:

• Medical information can be found online.
• Files and documents can be stored online.
• Communication is quick, easy, and efficient.
• Finding random information is easier than ever.
• Expanding our worldview is a click away.

The online world has opened up so many lives. It’s made us more accessible, more efficient, and given us so many opportunities that wouldn’t have been available otherwise. 

But…

• Excessive cell phone use has been linked to multiple mental health disorders such as depressive mood disorder, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation.
• Smartphones are addictive. Full stop.
• Excessive phone use negatively impacts personal relationships. 
• Social media leads to a decline in self-esteem. 

Now, it’s important to be clear. Not EVERYONE suffers from these issues. Not everyone experiences mental health issues or a decline in self-esteem or any other negative issues. But so many do. So many compare their lives to the filtered, curated, self-selected content they see online. 

People like me. And probably you.

There are, of course, factors that make phones better or worse. The earlier phones are introduced, the more damaging. Researchers suggest that for many kids, screens have replaced outdoor play. Kids are literally losing their childhood to screens.

For teens, social media and phones are a way of life. They can’t escape them. And while there are many perks to that fact, can you imagine being bombarded with perfect images as a teenager? With lifestyles that aren’t even real, but certainly seem like it on this side of the screen? Can you imagine making a mistake or doing something stupid – as all teens do – and having it captured FOREVER due to videos and social media posts. They literally can’t escape it. 

And even as an adult, we’re faced with influencers in their 20’s in million dollar houses. We’re faced with new story after news story about the economy, the volatility of politics, wars around the world, the climate crisis… It never ends. And while it’s certainly good to be aware of social issues, does it really have to slap us in the face 24/7? 

As a whole, we’ve forgotten that life is not on a screen. We certainly live like it is, but it’s not. 

You can’t touch and hold and hug and cherish the things you see on a screen. 

But you can hug your mom. You can laugh with your friends until you cry. You can play outside and feel the grass on your bare feet. You can watch your kids grow in your NOT-million dollar house and still be blissfully happy. You can use your phone and social media and the internet for what it was intended – efficiency and information. You can put it down and meet your neighbors. You can turn it off and sit outside and watch the rain. You can skip the video and experience the moment in real time. You can read real books and draw on real paper. You can wake up and enjoy the morning without ever touching your phone. You can turn off your phone and live your life instead of watching someone else’s through a screen.

You can opt out. 

You can opt out.

You can opt out. 

And maybe, every once in a while, we all should.