Disconnected in a connected world
Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives in this fast-paced, digital world. Our eyes are glued to screens from the moment we wake up to the moment we close our eyes to sleep, be it checking a message, scrolling social media, participating in video calls, watching videos, or looking for distractions. The advances in technology that made our lives easier to connect with each other, through the convenience of mobile phones, seem to have unfortunately had a subtle effect on our most basic way to connect as humans. We are now living in a time, where we are able to interact socially with blue ticks, emoji responses, and forwarded messages. Although, visiting friends or relatives and family members, spending face time with them, and nurturing those connections by seeing them in person will eventually go extinct. Once memorable occasions where all of us would gather together, now primarily take place as WhatsApp forwards, instead of family gatherings. Once meaningful occasions, such as wishing people Happy Birthday are done through Facebook reminders or via a two-liner message, rather than a hug, and an open-ended conversation. Our feelings on community, togetherness and belonging to a group, community, or family unit, as we know it is decaying slowly, as the nature of our virtual relationships overwhelms our existing ones.
This addiction to mobile phones is not only affecting our relationships, but it is also affecting our everyday behaviour in ways that are concerning and sad. people can be seen ways social occupied with their mobile devices even during breakfast, lunch or dinner. This way their health also gets affected. The dinner table which used to be a place where conversations and bonding occur, has turned into one where everyone is somehow connected to their device. Couples, siblings, even parents and children are sitting next to each other, but they have never been further apart. Walk into any park and you'll observe a disturbing trend. It would be perfectly fine for people if they gets relaxed by visiting their relatives and friends and converse with them face to face rather than chit chatting and messaging on phones. Walkers walk around aimlessly, head down on the screen, unbearable to the world around them. The very reason you step out- to relax, get fresh air and socialize - is in vain.
Mobile addiction has even penetrated into spaces that could be dangerous. It is now common for people to drive while on the phone or texting. With one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on a mobile phone, they are putting themselves — and everyone else on the road — in danger. And even though laws have been enforced and awareness campaigns have been launched, careless driving is still taking lives and abusing innocent people — and making our streets increasingly dangerous. The loss of the elderly is one of the most disturbing outcomes of this mobile-crazed lifestyle. Within many homes, aged parents, grandparents and the elderly sit silently, wishing for a conversation or several minutes of attention. Their children, however, are too busy looking at mobile screens to care. Our children are neglecting the elderly by neglecting their emotional needs, is really disturbing emotional needs, weakening emotional bonds, from them and our families, and losing the wisdom of the elderly who sit alone and don't know. This feeling is very real for the elderly, and this alone can lead to their sense of loneliness or isolation, ultimately driving them into depression or a sense of loss of not being cared for, or cared about.
This obsession with and dependence on cell phones has even begun to shift priorities. People cancel time with loved ones yet never miss a notification. Skip family functions yet post on social media stories religiously. The screen seems to be the new window to the world- a world that looks perfect, filtered, and fake; yet lacks the warmth and authenticity of real human contact. Social relationships, which were once motivated by empathy, time, and experience, are being displaced by banal interactions. we are so engrossed and addicted with mobiles that we are getting far away from our close relatives and the relationships have vanished now as we think the mobiles are Sun, Moon and God for us. Digital connections cannot compare to real ones. A “like” online will never compare to a genuine compliment & acknowledgment said face to face. A forwarded indicate cannot replicate the level of comfort that physically being beside someone offers during their time of need.
The problem is not with the technology: mobile phone technology is a powerful asset that has altered how we communicate, learn, and access information. The problem arises when this technology is used compulsively and begins to interfere with real-life responsibilities and relationships. That is when technology crosses the line from utility to addiction. We need to make a perfect balance between our social lives and online connectivity. Breaking mobile addiction doesn't involve changing your life, just being considerate. Families can start their journey to avoid addiction by simply declaring tech-free zones or times, including during meal times. If families become mobile-phone free for a few hours each day and reconnect with people's minds (not mobile devices) it could change their lifestyle. For example, while walking in the park could be a reflection or interaction time, it should never be used to text. While driving, there should be rules, and phones should not be involved - again, safety first.
Children need to be educated about responsible mobile device use early in their lives. The way that parents demonstrate good behaviour in regard to screen use will lead children to exhibiting the same behaviour as teenagers and adults. There can be also an approach for school and college to lead workshops on digital detoxification which would educate students on the known psychological and social impacts of mobile addiction. In addition, we as a society must value real conversations again. Bring back the culture of visiting neighbors, meeting up spontaneously with friends, and writing notes. As a society, let's make festivals and celebrations about togetherness again, not about group selfies and online greetings. Let's make an effort to visit our friends and relatives instead of forwarding messages. Let's listen to our elders, connect with our children, and rediscover enjoyment in one on one conversations.
As we progress into this tech-heavy and cyborg age, it's important to remember that machines should be our servant and not our replacement. A machine cannot replace the warmth of human relationships, the effort of a friendly voice, the will of a human presence. After all, we need to get our lives back before we become so remote because of our mobile addiction that we forget how to human, how to love, connect, or care. It is time for us to re-examine our sense of self. We will not let our peers and family members live as if their screens are walls. Time has come when we need to introspect ourselves and try to make judicious use of mobiles otherwise we are getting to fall into its prey. It is now time to reconnect with the ethos of a society that once cared about human connection and empathy. At the end of the day, no number of messages or likes can me meaningful to our existence like a passionate conversation, a shared laugh, or the comfort of a human touch.
*(Note:- This article written by me was published on Brighter Kashmir newspaper on 18-06-2025)*
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