Put the Phone Away

With students all over the world continuing to spend more time on their devices, the fragile social relationships slowly break down. However, there is still time to mend these relationships. By reducing the amount of time spent on phones during in-person gathering and one-on-one hangouts, repairing these broken relationships become possible.

Using cell phones during hangouts and social gatherings do have some obvious benefits. They allow for the use of social media and activities that can bond them together. However, the harm of emotional disconnection overshadow the benefits of using cell phones in hangouts. a smartphone on a table diminishes the quality of an in-person conversation. People naturally choose shallow topics when they expect to be interrupted or ignored. In a 2020 study of cellphone use and social gatherings, researchers found that one reason people looked at their phones was to “avoid conversations with others.”

Furthermore, research has found that the habit of looking at phones stems from a fear of “missing out”. Ironically, this results in missing out on the reality directly in front of us. Constantly checking on phones not only sets a negative impression, it breaks the natural flow of conversation and can cause frustration, awkwardness, and a lack of trust over time.

To fix this problem, you can start hosting 90s style hangouts, where phones are completely off the whole time. In the 90s, there was little texting, no selfies, social media, or GPS. By banning the presence of these devices during social hangouts, it encourages people to discuss deeper topics such as personal goals, philosophical ideas, and life dreams; thus expanding their social relationships.

Your challenge this month is to join or create a 90s style hangout and try to expand and form more relationships with the people around you.