Smartphones often simplify life and connect individuals to everything and anything happening in the world. However, smart devices as a whole cause more harm than good.
According to minimalismandyourmoney.com, the average American spends two hours and 51 minutes on their smartphones each day. This equates to 20 hours a week, 86 hours a month and 1,026 hours a year utilizing a smartphone.
Most teenagers average more than (almost) three hours of mindlessly scrolling through social media. Therefore, teens are potentially wasting more than 1,026 hours of their life every year.
During those 1,026 hours, individuals could have learned a new skill, made new memories or simply kept themselves busy with something that is more beneficial and productive.
There is a multitude of hobbies that can keep someone busy such as reading, puzzles, exercising, meditation and more. Although, a better solution could be to go back to technology from simpler times.
The comeback of flip phones and other non-smartphones could give everyone a new outlook on life. Many people have grown so accustomed to smart devices and social media, but fail to realize that it is not a necessity in their lives.
A flip phone only has the basics, calling and text messaging, and the basics are all that anyone really needs. A smartphone has an extreme amount of extra features that cause individuals to forget about the importance of the basics.
Without FaceTime, Facebook, Instagram and other social media applications, people would be encouraged to make more of an effort to reach out to loved ones. Flip phones would allow others to build better relationships and create more in-person experiences.
Stress and anxiety are likely to increase as screen time on smart devices increases. People might find that if they were to use a flip phone for a certain period of time they might feel refreshed.
Trashing a smartphone is a big step that requires a lot of thought and dedication, but making a true effort to reduce screen time could cause the same positive results as replacing the original smart device.
An individual should not look up and realize they spent most of their life living through technology instead of their own experiences. Social media and smartphones will always be available, but time and memories with loved ones will not.