This week, I explored the elephant in every room: my generation’s use of technology. It is not uncommon for me to enter any space, and to easily point out at least one or two of my peers with their neck bent down and their head in their phones. I admit that sometimes I am in that person. So, this week I explored this relationship between the young adult and their cell phone. In the video below, you will find some of my discoveries.
This was my first time utilizing the production site Animoto and I will admit that it was easier than I expected. The site has easy-to-follow guides that allowed me to insert my own content within their pre-made themes.
The difficulty in this project, thus, did not come during production time but rather as I was gathering my content. I found it slightly uncomfortable to take pictures of strangers on their phones; although, looking back, this fear was slightly nonsensical as my subjects were too deep into their phones to even notice my discreet picture-taking.
Furthermore, this project pushed me to have conversations I would have never had with my peers. When they saw me documenting people on their phones, it forced them to evaluate their own relationship with technology. While some were quick to defend their screen time, most were unashamed with their technology habits
This revelation is what brought me to the subject of my video above. All too often do we deem public use of technology as shameful behavior. We shun people all the time for being on their phones rather than “living in the moment.” And while I do agree with this sentiment to some extent, this project also brought me to recognize the beneficial aspects of using our phones in public.
I do not think we should be on our phones 24/7 instead of engaging with the people and environment right in front of us. But sometimes, when engaging in social interactions, there are points in the conversation where no one feels like talking. Points where you personally have nothing productive to contribute. Instead of trying to force an interaction, I noticed that instead, people would just turn to their phones. As if it was some sort of security blanket.
If not overused, perhaps the use of cell phones in public is just a mechanism of getting through awkward social situations. It is natural for there to be dead spots in a conversation. A time where no words are needed. So why not utilize the resources that technological advances have provided to us, and entertain ourselves within these otherwise awkward moments. I noticed in my short study that by taking a quick phone break, people may find a topic on social media or in their group chats that can then spark up the conversation again. Thus, the cell phone isn’t inhibiting social interactions but supplementing them.
After making this video, I am less quick to attack someone for going on their phone when they are around people, so long as they are not cutting themselves off completely from any further social interaction. Oftentimes, however, I found that when people check their phones, they are still receptive to their environment, they just needed a little technology break. And honestly, who doesn’t need one of those once in a while.
nyah terrilyn 