Phone addiction is one subtle form of addiction that is causing a lot of problems in our world today, yet it has been overlooked because people don't really see that it's a problem, but in reality, a lot of young people today are victims of phone addiction.
I once saw a documentary of how a teenager was driving and texting, and because he had lost his concentration, he ran into a child who was the only child of his parents.
The truth is almost everyone today is guilty of phone addiction. I mean, sometimes I practically sleep holding my phone because I was either texting or watching something, and sometimes I wake up, and the first thing I do is pick up my phone.
You go to public gatherings today, and you can hardly walk around an auditorium without seeing people on their mobile phones, either playing games or just endlessly scrolling on social media.
I saw something on my mentor's status just this afternoon, and the person in the video asked ChatGPT what it would do if it were the devil, and one of the shocking things it said was that it would make people occupied on their phones such that they can't even have time to communicate with God, the creator.
The sad reality is most people don't even have time to commune with their soul and have quiet times anymore because their phones have become their go-to first thing in the morning and last thing before bed.
You ask some people today who their best friend is, and they tell you the phone is their best friend because they have become so addicted they can't even build a meaningful relationship.
Parents now put tablets in the hands of kids, and when you take those tabs away, those children begin to throw tantrums because they have become addicted.
The result is that people have lost the ability to communicate in clear terms, concentration ability has been reduced, and it has also reduced the problem-solving skills in a lot of people because at the slightest problem, the first thought is ChatGPT.
The good news is that there's still hope; for kids, parents need to create a routine for kids to use their phones, and once those times elapse, the device should be retrieved until they come of age to have a device totally to themselves.
People should be taught the importance of reading from a young age; a reading habit should be developed. This will help a lot in terms of creating meaningful conversations and also increasing problem-solving skills in children.
Games like chess, Scrabble, Monopoly, and other games that will sharpen the thinking capacity of kids should be taught to kids at a tender age. The reason I am focusing on kids is the fact that whatever they grow up with is what will shape them for the future.
And for adults, the moment you come to a realization that you are spending too much time on your phone, you can set screen time to monitor your usage and create a routine to do things that will keep you productive.
Scrolling on our phones endlessly on a daily basis will only lead to the release of dopamine, and that will only make you feel good for a moment. What brings true joy is being able to do what we love.
Thanks for stopping by.
Images used are AI-generated and a screenshot from my mentor's WhatsApp status.