Have we ever wondered how much time we spend with our heads down on our cell phones ? How attached are we to this device, to the point of using it at any time of the day? And if one day we were told we couldn't use it for a certain period of time, how would we react? To answer these questions, we must realize that the more we continue to enter the virtual world , the more we lose touch with the real world, and in an instant, humans risk turning from social animals into social animals . Are there ways to "detox" from social media use?
Cell phone addiction
Now the smartphone addiction It's increasingly on the rise and affects not only young people but everyone, regardless of age or gender. It's as if we've entered a dimension that alienates us from what's really around us, and this is truly alarming and a sad reality. At the dinner table, at work, on vacation, while walking, we use our cell phones everywhere, even when there's no real need to. Let's look back at the number of times we check our phones, or even just the screen, to see if we have any notifications: 221 times higherThis is revealed by an English research by the institute OnepollAccording to this research, we use our cell phones on average 3 and a half hours a day This means that in an entire week we lose just one day to chatting, surfing the Internet, or using applications. Improper use of digital devices leads individuals to no longer distinguish between real life and digital life, and the more time spent on social media, the more they loosen their boundaries. interpersonal relationshipsWe almost feel embarrassed when we have someone next to us and need to start a conversation. We use cell phones, and even tablets, more than we think, and other research shows how cell phones are used even in the workplace, which, in some cases, can be very dangerous when considering certain professions.
Nomophobia: The New Social Disease
In 2016 Deloitte conducted a scientific study in 31 countries involving nearly 50 people. The data collected from this study are alarming. 57% of people check their phones within 22 minutes of waking up, 83% read work emails during the night, and 37% check for notifications at night. 92% use their cell phones at work. This shows us how much time we spend on our cell phones and not with the people sitting next to us, or how we constantly check our phones even when we're with friends or children, almost as if they were a vital needIt often happens that we make comparisons with the past and, even if we grant that times have changed, it is sad to see teenagers sitting in a park chatting unlike their peers of 20 years ago who played and had fun. nomofobia It's therefore the fear of no longer having an internet connection, the fear of remaining "disconnected." The uncontrolled use of this tool leads us to no longer be aware of the time we use it and also of the time we waste posting photos, waiting for notifications, publishing, surfing the Internet. It's a real dependenceBut are there ways to detox? What could be possible solutions to eradicate this ever-increasing phenomenon?
Without connection
To prevent men from losing their right way (It's not just a metaphor, many people walking with their cell phones in their hands don't even see where their feet are), there should be a drastic "cut" in the use of cell phones at least in certain environments where there is more control. Two of the most controlled environments are certainly the school and workplaceIn schools, it might be appropriate to have cell phones handed in at the entrance so that attention can be increased in class. This has already been done in a school in Padua. The circular states: "Given the enormous number of disciplinary reports issued to students due to cell phone misuse, starting March 20, 2018, all students are required to leave their cell phones, turned off, in the classroom cabinet or in the designated container at the beginning of class. The first-period teacher will lock the cabinet or container. At the end of class, students will collect their cell phones under the supervision of the last-period teacher.“A similar and more recent event occurred a few days ago in Germany. The location has changed but not the intent. Nothing social networks or Internet for personal use, but more free time. This is the innovative recipe proposed to its employees by Jobroller, a Bavarian company that hopes not only to improve its revenue but also the lives of its employees. By not using their cell phones, employees work six hours straight instead of eight, without a break, but in return, they gain 10 more hours of free time per week and complete their work optimally without distractions. Believing we're using it consciously is already wrong, because in that very moment, we're lying to ourselves. We shouldn't feel the need to be tied to this device and feel naked if we don't use it. It's a human-made tool, and it's illogical that a human-made creation could take over. Let's truly try to understand the meaning of life, and likes on a photo certainly won't make the difference.
Filomena Oronzo
I graduated in Sociology with a specialization in Social and Territorial Policies, and earned a master's degree in E-Government and E-Management in Public Administration. I love reading and writing. For me, sociology means experiencing everyday life in all its nuances and nuances. Today, I am an Administrative Assistant at the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo in Trieste, and above all, I am a wife and mother, the greatest asset of all.
