The Hard Truth & Sad Reality of Social Media – Devices That Consume Us

The sad reality of how smartphones and other devices are consuming us and face-to-face human interaction and communicating is diminishing and at a rapid rate. We need to set limits within ourselves to go offline, explore our world around us, connect with humans at a personal level, show emotions, and develop our personalities.

This is the fact and the hard truth and it has become a huge problem in our society, when we prioritize what’s on our screens, and play with apps. We no longer need to do any critical thinking anymore, we no longer need to learn the basics, even mathematics, spelling, counting. Everything is done for us and there are apps for everything.

We are putting smartphones and devices first in our lives, and physical communication with people second. Even paying attention to our families and friends have diminished. I see it happen far too often where people get together at restaurants and coffee shops and they sit around not talking, but they are on their phones and showing no emotion, and no personality. It is so sad. Why have we come this far? Why do we have to do this 24/7?

Here I am talking about this on a social media blogging platform.

We have become so dependent on these devices that we even ask Siri and Alexa to do basic chores around the house like taking down decorations for example, but we know that it won’t happen that way, but maybe one day. I wouldn’t put anything past it. Screen time is consuming our time at a very alarming rate.

So much of our lives are going by and we don’t realize it. Spend time with your loved ones and create memories without these screens. want to take pictures? Buy a digital camera and take pictures and then look at them later. Smartphones have made it easy to take pictures and to share instantly too

Our brains are no longer functioning without these devices that we stare at for hours and hours a day. People cannot even put these devices down when driving, walking, and even shopping. This has become a big disease and it is running people’s lives.

It’s very serious. I am very concerned about the coming generations.

These images are so powerful and the description exactly and spot on of what these devices are doing to us. Hopefully, it will make people think about their actions and take these matters seriously. What can we do to combat this? How can we take a break from this all?

I am definitely making changes in my life. Life is too short. 

Memorizing Phone Numbers of Yesterday VS Technology today.

Recently, I have made a realization that has been in my mind for a few days now. How we used to keep in touch with phones, technology of today VS. memorizing phone numbers from yesterday and the past.

In the 80’s and 90’s and before that in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, we had paper address books, and as well as a phone numbers list stuck on our fridge doors. Before cell phones, we had to memorize numbers, a huge directory book of phone numbers and contacts would appear in front of our doorstep to find people to call them.

You had to really memorize numbers or else, how else would you be able to contact somebody? Before, it wasn’t easy when people weren’t home and couldn’t contact them until they got home. So people would call a few times. When parties, functions, meetings and all that took place, it would be difficult to let people know they will be late. Calling them at home didn’t make the difference. Sometimes people wouldn’t show up and all night they worry about what happens.

People used to use corded phones to the wall, so they would be stuck in the room and playing with the cord while talking on the phone. I am sure in today’s world, there still are corded phones in the homes because if in case the electricity goes out, you have a backup and also your cell phone. Well until the battery runs out. So I sure hope you remember some phone numbers. It is important.

How did people go without all the technology to communicate? How about when there was no caller I.D? Nobody would know who is calling. I think Prank callers had a lot of fun back then using payphones to trick people and annoy them. How about when people used to carry a phone address book with them in their bags?

Nowadays, with smartphones and technology, there is no need to write numbers anymore.  People are so connected to their phones and now the art of calling people is slim to none and people are more involved in text messaging so that they can have time to organize their thoughts, instead of speaking directly to someone on the phone. It has become such a norm.

I am pretty sure there are still people in this world today who still recognizes and memorize phone numbers. It is important to have things on paper too, so as if one day your smartphone is on its last mission to serve you, at least you have backup.

Memorize phone numbers that you regularly text and call. Use and address book to put them in. You never know what happens to your phone. You can lose your contact list and then somehow get on a computer to send status messages on Facebook letting people know “I’ve lost all my contacts, please send me your phone numbers again”. I have see and heard about that so many times.

If it ever comes to a point where you need a phone number and cannot remember it on a rainy day, it will actually be really bad.

How many of you remember your friends numbers? Do you know your boyfriend, fiancé, or husbands, or girlfriend, wife,  cousins or even your parents numbers by heart? If you do not, then its time you do.

We cannot let technology and contact lists in our phones do all the work for us, that we don’t need to remember anything, its in our phones. Nobody should think that way. People really need to think about it. We need to upgrade our minds and educate it and learn the skill to memorize things.

So, I wouldn’t be so dependent on technology and go for the greater technology we were born with… Our brains. There is nothing that technology has that will even be a fraction or come close to than our brain in our bodies..

 

Android VS. Apple — The difference. – In My opinion

Do not take offense to it if you are heavily into iPhone, but it is just what I have noticed. I began to dissect the difference between the two. So far Android is the winner.

~~ Android ~~

With Android phones, you can save photos, videos and files right to your computer backing it up easily with just hooking up your USB cable. You do not have to use iCloud or iTunes and always rely on them to always back up your contacts too. you have many more options of looking for apps and androids are more convenient to use and you have more options of buying different types of phones such as the Samsung, LG, HTC, Nexus, Also, to charge the battery you have options of using different types of charging ends on phones and cost less. I prefer android more than Apple in my opinion.

~~ Apple ~~

You must always use Apple products, downloading iTunes, iCloud, to always back up your photos, videos, music and other things. You cannot just directly hook up the USB to your computer and directly put the items in your documents. You are limited with the apps for apple. It is a lot more complicated to maneuver around the app, and they only have one type of charger. The ending of the chargers are a lot more flimsy and have to replace it often. Plus apple products are so much more costly. If you do not have Apple Care, then you are pretty much going to dig into your pocket a lot more. Also with that you have more of a chance to lose your contact information and photos if you make one small wrong move. Sorry, Siri

I am sticking to Android and will always be a loyal user. A lot better and easier to manage without all the sophisticated stuff, without hassle.

Are We Missing out on Life’s Experiences With Screens?

Long gone are the days where simplicity, enjoyment, living life at the fullest extent, enjoying and experiencing life without the use of smartphones, tablet screens and so many more. Are we really missing out on life’s experiences? Everything in life has its limitations, and in today’s society, people tend to go overboard with posting everything and anything they see. They are not really experiencing life, they are merely trying to capture anything and everything to share on social media networks, capture photos and share them on photo sharing sites.

Long gone are the days where people used to go to concerts and shows where everyone’s eyes and attention was looking at the stage without wanding lights coming from smartphones and tablets. Now with thousands of people capturing moments with their devices, these concerts and these special events in a person’s life is being video taped by the videographer’s of the concert, venue, and even when people witness a wedding or a reception.

I understand that you want to keep your personal memories too, of which taking pictures and everything and that is fine, but always wanding a device isn’t really the same as actually witnessing something happen before your eyes. Some moments are meant to be lived without screens, and where down the road you can remember it in your mind, and the good times to remind yourself and those who you lived those memories with.

I mean yes, special and beautiful events such as babies when they are born, their actions, and everything else need to be documented and everything, and there are moments in a person’s life that should be kept private and not for the world to see. Do not worry if you tell someone what your child did, or said that they will not believe you. They will. You do not need to always have proof or a video of something.

You really do not have to be in competition with the world and join a popularity contest because you want to be the first ones to capture something and put so many hashtags, and post something for the sake of posting something. It should never be that way.

People have the perception that if they do not capture, video, then post it on social media, the internet, tweet about it, that some people think that they are lying without providing proof that things actually did occur. I think that everything has its limits and not everything should be published online. Some things should be kept a secret, things should be kept private. Unfortunately, privacy is non-existent in today’s world because of these devices.

When people travel and explore the world, people will always have that force of habit to document every moment with screens, but the world has become smaller and people are more familiar with everything because people do research and look up videos and get more curious to find things out all the time, but the important thing to remember is that it is not fair to capture something, and then the soon to be traveler going to that place will see what it is all about and then that person or person’s will not be surprised anymore. It will all be spoiled for them

Some things are meant to be left unsaid, some things are meant to be explored without having people always telling others about something. People need to experience and form their own opinions.

I am all for and support smartphones, video, cameras, tablets and other devices, and I have them as well, but there is a limit and a lot of people now have crossed that limit. Screens have become addicting and it is so on the rise, that some people cannot go 5 minutes without looking at their phone. They bring it with them to bed, they check messages before bed, waking up, during meals, at work, during cooking meals, tending to their families, even while driving. Nobody should have their phones or other devices while driving. That is not only dangerous but very ridiculous.

In the past before all these devices came out, how do you think people passed their time? There was twice as much homework to do after school for the students, school times were longer, there was no use of devices, people had to make their own games and toys to physically play with, not one of those gaming consoles, people were outside playing, enjoying the true essence of life, more love, respect and family time, people didn’t have the luxury of instantly finding information, where they had to jet off to the library to find books, encyclopedia’s without the use of the internet or software.

With all that being said, people need to put their screens down and look up to enjoy life more, to witness things, to observe, and to capture the beauty of the world with your eyes. Not with screens. They shouldn’t be your eyes. Be more social, talk, take a pen and physically write without the use of keyboards and keypads.

Think about it. Experience life, put down your device and do it right now.

The Disrespectful Generation

What a rude and disrespectful new generation of teens we have today. I was standing in line at Tim Hortons coffee shop to order, and out goes these 3 teenagers who came in together from a nearby high school with their backpacks and without even saying excuse me to me, they charged their way through to get in front of me, shoving me and my handbag to the side where there were other people behind me too. I said, excuse me you all budded in front of others and myself and nearly tipped me over. The back of the line starts there. I said wait like the rest of us are.

They said to me, isn’t this a line too? I said No, go behind the line. If you want to get by next time say excuse me or something or better yet, don’t bud in line when others are waiting to order too. I don’t think it is fair at all. Who do you think you guys are? I said to them learn to show respect to others, some manners and proper etiquette and common sense, then I ordered my drink and out I went and then I went by them again before I left to my car, I saw them look down on their smartphones and not even looking at each other and I said put your smartphones down and get some real intelligence and smarts and learn how to behave, then I walked right out. I am not afraid to confront these type of people.

They need to be taught these qualities and nowadays there is not enough interaction, and some of these people lack in social skills and manners of which they were not taught, or they are taught and think that they are invincible and think they can do whatever they please because they are young and under 18. Shouldn’t work that way at all. Manners, respect, Attitude,  etiquette, common sense should be enforced and taught to people at all ages. If these people are not taught these qualities when they are little toddlers to little kids by 5-6 years old, then they will grow up thinking it is okay to treat people this way and bud in the line and think its socially acceptable, but it is not. I am disgusted by some of these teenagers these days and whoever else, doesn’t matter the age.

I was taught at a very young age before I was 4 years old to learn to respect others, manners, and proper etiquette. It all starts when you are very young. That will stick with you for the rest of your life. I know we are all born with different personalities, but our personality grows with how our parents, guardians, care-givers teach us about quality of life instead of quantity.

Respect to be Respected,
Be nice so people be nice to you,
Be kind so people be kind to you,
it is as simple as that.

Smartphones and Tablets — Have They Taken Over Our Lives?

As mobile devices serve a good purpose in life to communicate with others with texting, calling, spending time with apps, and having fun with them, but there should be limits. I feel that human face to face communication is diminishing, and that mobile devices have gone out of control. Social skills and speaking is deteriorating as our tongue freezes up and cannot come up with conversations instantly, whereas it is easier to communicate with texts and writing messages, but I prefer the old fashioned way, where people come together, enjoy, create memories, laugh, talk and do fun things together, to put the phones down and actually verbally do the talking instead of the fingers. I know that it is a personal mobile phone and you can be on it 24 hours a day, but you do not need to be on it constantly.

I feel that smartphones and tablets and the constant changes to technology and gadgets are taking over some peoples lives and they can’t seem to put them down at all, they wake up with it, go to bed with it, they use the washroom with it, they eat dinner while being on them, they use it while at a coffee shop or restaurant among friends 90% of the time people get together and do not look at each others faces, and its just overwhelmingly taken over. what is the point of getting together with people when all that will be done is looking at screens? Where do we draw the line? Its become so bad that when people are physically together, they text each other when they are beside each other, and they communicate with their phone instead of looking at each other and moving their mouths.

I too have a smartphone mobile device, but I know my limits. I do enjoy my mobile device too, but I do not let it control my life, or my way of living. I will not let a screen device take over my life and who I am. Some people need to know limits, and when to put down the phone, like when someone is talking to you, when you are among a group of people, when you are in the washroom and so on and so forth. I sometimes go more than 12 hours without looking at my phone, I sometimes don’t look at it all day, as I do not let it control me.

Although mobile devices are important to have for emergencies and to contact people instantly, but some people overuse it to the point where things get out of hand and disrespecting others who are trying to talk to you when your head is so into that device, and its not healthy especially the radiation it produces. From your point of view, do you limit your use? What are your opinions about this issue? I would love to hear from you.  Know your limit and be within it.

How Dependent We Have Become Of The Internet

Just under 12 hours ago, I realized that It is crazy how dependent we are when it comes to the internet and how hooked people are. Last night Southern and Eastern Ontario, Canada Rogers Communications customers were ousted from an internet power outage that left people going haywire because the internet wasn’t working for a few hours, and a lot of people were angry, yelling, swearing and cursing, well, it depends on what you were doing online at that moment, but ladies and gentlemen, we shouldn’t dedicate our lives to the internet, there is a life out there waiting to be lived and we shouldn’t be so hooked into it, but nowadays technology has surpassed normal face to face communications, and the true essence of being together. That is the unfortunate part. Nothing beats face to face communication and togetherness. Unless your friends and family are hundreds or thousands of miles away and you want to Skype with them and talk to them and keep in touch.

Don’t let the internet take over your life. We bloggers, we social media guru’s, Web designers and all the people who are dependent on the internet, should balance life because being on the internet all day and being on the computer all day is not a great thing. Limit yourself, balance life, time management is key. A lot of people say they do not have the time of day and they say they don’t spend hours and hours online, but then again you see them online. It is a very sad situation we live in. Normal communication is at an all time low because were all in front of TV/computer/laptop/smartphones/tablets/ipad  screens and I have noticed people have speech impairment now, and do not really know what to talk to people about in person, but have an easier chance to talk to someone and come up with topics to talk about while on the internet and that makes it easy to communicate without even looking at each other. It shouldn’t be like that. People should be comfortable talking to each other face to face.

Last night was incredibly insane with all the twitter, facebook, and other social media messages read, with people going crazy because the internet is not available for a few hours. The internet power outage is a sign for people to live life, it is a sad situation and this may be a joke to some people, but it is not a joke. This is a very serious situation were all in. The internet is like a drug addiction and some people really need to butt out. As the years go by, technology has advanced so much that people do not know what to do anymore, and people are always out buying the latest gadgets and everything. I too spend time on the internet and everything, but I know my limits, and I prioritize everything in my life.  I am not saying all of us don’t prioritize, I am not saying that everyone does this. I am saying in general and I am saying to those who do. The internet is such a powerful tool for communications, research, homework, work, assignments, and the biggest information hub of the world and encyclopedia’s and books are not being sold as much. You know how great it felt when I actually opened up my diaries and looked at photos in a normal album? You know how good it was for me to open up things from my past in the boxes I have saved my precious and valuables? Its something that was a great feeling.

All I am saying is that don’t make the internet your life, and don’t be so dependent on it. That is what these carriers and communications networks wants us to do, but in the end your the one who makes the decision, but in my opinion in a unsolicited point of view, it is very important to live life outside the internet, and limit. I am not saying don’t go on the internet when you want to, but just know your limit and be within it.