It’s no secret that technology has become increasingly pervasive in the lives of modern youth. With skyrocketing screen times, Gen Z and Gen Alpha have to grapple with technology in unprecedented ways.
To explore the ways that technology has affected our generation, I interviewed Orange Lutheran Alumna Jill Huett.
Huett remarks that she turns to her cell phone when she is bored, a sentiment that many youth can relate to. When asked why, she explained that “its abundance of high dopamine applications at the touch of a finger” are the culprit since “our brains try to look for the most low effort/high reward activity” when we feel bored.
But in my humble opinion, I believe that the issue is less of boredom and more of insecurity. Huett concurred, stating that she would likely “experience withdrawal symptoms emotionally and mentally [similarly to] a drug” due to the highly addictive nature of cell phone usage. She notes that her phone has “provided unlimited entertainment and safety:” a deadly combination.
Without our phones, there is an expectation to be mentally present. We are forced to interact with the world without our phones acting as a social barrier and excuse to leave potentially uncomfortable situations. The combination of using phones as a social crutch and using phones as a means to satisfy an ever-increasing dopamine addiction has riddled technology an increasingly prevalent issue in our society.
My fellow screenagers, I know you want to believe this doesn’t apply to you. But, be honest with yourself. The first step to stopping your phone addiction is to realize you have one.
I’m no advocate for the annihilation of all technology, but I know that most of the time I spend on my phone is unproductive. Huett agrees, stating that “mindless entertainment” makes up most of her screen time. When we cut out some of this engagement, we stop the instant gratification we get from doom scrolling and make a step towards healthier screen boundaries.
So, my proposal to my fellow screenagers is this: do something that challenges you. Scrolling on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, or whatever other platform you enjoy is easy—something many of us have gotten used to. So maybe pick up a book sometime or even hug your mom. Crazy, I know. But if we don’t make changes to a problem we’re aware of, the problem will only grow.
TL;DR for my screenagers who couldn’t be bothered to read: stop doom scrolling, hug your mom.
Photo Credit: Ikon Images
