Nobody Likes That Person Who Looks At Their Phone While You're Talking -- So Why Are We All That Person Now?
30September

Nobody Likes That Person Who Looks At Their Phone While You're Talking -- So Why Are We All That Person Now?

Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Inspirational

How Often Are You Ignoring Your Friends And Looking At Your Phone?

Think about the last time you had a conversation with one of your friends. How much of the time did you have your phone out, browsing the web or looking at Facebook? If you're a typical American, the answer is probably a lot. Recent studies have shown that Americans spend as much at 65 percent of conversations not looking at their friends, but at their phone. At first glance, this figure seems absurd, but really pay attention next time you are spending time with your friends. You'll quickly notice that during any lull in the conversation, out comes everyone's phone. Nobody likes this kind of behavior, but we all still do it. Why then, are we engaging in a behavior we all claim to hate?

Getting To The Bottom Of Cell Phone Addiction

So why do we do it? Why are we constantly staring at our phone during the small amount of social interaction we get? One reason may be that it is any easy way to deal with social awkwardness. When a person feels like they have nothing to add to a conversation, they simply focus on their phone. This gives the impression that they are busy with something and alleviates their feelings of awkwardness. However, this explanation obviously doesn't apply to everyone. Others may be constantly checking Facebook or other forms of social media, valuing digital relationships more than real ones. Feeling this way is a person's prerogative, but what will happen to us as a society if our culture continues down this path? Will we reach the point where face to face interaction is no longer a part of the human experience?

Constant Cell Phone Use Is Becoming Increasingly Common

This pattern of constantly using cell phones began among teenagers, but has since became something almost everyone is doing. This isn't just among young people, older individuals are doing the same thing. So we must ask ourselves, if we are going to stop this cultural trend where will we begin? There is no easy answer, as every individual must decide for themselves. So what should you do in the future when you're at a party? You'll tell yourself that you'll leave the phone in your car, but you probably wont. With the way today's culture has shifted towards making divided attention and constant focus on technology the norm, it is likely that most people will continue to use phones throughout the day, ignoring anyone around them.