People these days are extremely addicted to their phones, to the point where some very serious incidents have even happened. For example, since 2010 injuries caused by phones have increased by a whole 35%. It sounds ridiculous for someone to be hurt by just using their phone, but not impossible due to people looking at their screens rather than where they are going. 

Now I will admit, I too, am a part of this “phone addiction” problem in society because I am aware that I also go on my phone too much everyday. I think most people, specifically teenagers, have the problem of checking their phones every second they have. For me, before and after class I am usually on my phone, as well as the rest of the class. I have noticed that in elementary school, and even middle school that never really happened. We were always talking to each other and we would get in trouble for talking too much whereas now I feel like I hear people getting in trouble for having their phones out as opposed to talking. During quarantine, I used to check my screen time and sometimes it would even get up to around 11 hours on my phone per day which is completely irrational, and I know that I was not the only one. It’s so strange to see how much teenagers are able to go on their phones and not get bored, and just not care as much about their surroundings.  

Phones have significantly affected many peoples’ social lives greatly as well. Especially after quarantine since we would socialize online, and on facetime rather than face-to-face communication, it is now the new normal to communicate more online because we all grew used to that type of behavior. This is a problem because once quarantine came to a close and we all started going back to work, or school, people lack the communication skills they used to have. Many find themselves very anxious to start conversations and meet new people because of being locked up by themselves for so long. I even noticed myself losing the social skills I thought I used to have after coming out of quarantine. I remember the first day back I was so nervous and refused to talk to anyone I didn’t know. This led to me not really making any new friends last year because I created such a barrier around myself due to being so used to the independent