The “Phone” Break 

We’ve moved on from a quick smoke. 

As anyone who has been to a high school play or any other event that is just a bit too dark and too boring (sorry but the Sound of Music can only hold one’s interest so many times) to ignore the brightness of a tiny little smart phone screen, one will notice an interesting phenomenon near the bathrooms or just outside the doors: groups of people, mostly grown adults, huddled over their devices. Now sure, people get phone calls, work is important, I can understand that, but I’m fairly certain not 10 people in a crowd of a little over 200 need to check their phone right that minute. Also, I think at least two of the moms were playing Candy Crush.

Internet and technology addiction is a topic seemingly beaten into the ground again and again and again, as big magazines and news cites seem to never get tired of any topic that will allow them to sell to their most financially beneficial demographic (generally older people). I never really thought of it too much myself though. I mean sure, everyone in my generation knows at least one kid who seems completely unaware of all things outside of the scope of the Internet, but for the most part, technology has integrated into a part of our lives rather than an escape from it. It is the older generation that seems to have the problem balancing it with real life. They still do things, but even my conservative “change-hating” father cannot break from his phone for longer than 20 minutes.

Maybe it is because the phone is easy and one can do anything on it, but I sincerely wish that the parents who go to school functions to “support” their children, would actually watch their children preform instead of stepping out every 15 minutes for a 5 minute “phone break.” Tobacco or technology, while the long-term ramifications of the addiction change, one still can’t do it at a school funciton.