How do we get people off their phones?

[PurpleWalls]

It's driving me crazy at the moment. Nobody is having conversations anymore or even making eye contact. Will life always be like this from now on?

I went to a party the other day, all the kids were sat on a wall on their phones.

I went to school pick up yesterday, all the adults were on their phones, didn't even look up or say hi.

I am guilty of it too sometimes, it feels like an addiction, it is an addiction. I feel angry at myself for wasting away life looking at my phone.

Will people look back on these years and think that we were stupid or is this the new normal?

I really hope that something happens to stop this way of life. Or maybe we need to be the change?

Does it worry you or AIBU?

I fell into this and had to come off social media and remove all interactive apps from my phone to get past it!

It's interesting to hear the different opinions on this.

@LaMaG I agree with you, the big media companies are purposely causing this addiction for their own gain. If it was accidental, it wouldn't feel so bad.

@Thebestwaytoscareatory Thanks for providing the photos of the people from the 1950s ignoring others whilst reading their papers. This has helped me realise that this aspect of phone usage isn't just an issue of our time.

@Stayinthecakebox I totally understand where you are coming from and hadn't really appreciated this.

it worries and upsets me but here I am on it again. I get a little ache in my temples when I hear my phone go off but try not to get it.
I often just go and get it.

Why don't we use this tread as a way to keep us off it.

ps my sons going to secondary school in September so will need a phone but I desperately don't want him to be hooked or have access to p*rn and Snapchat and all the other worries either.

The thing is, people might be on their phones but you’ve got no idea what they’re doing on them. I saw someone suggest we should have phone free zones, in that zone am I not allowed a book or newspaper if what I would be doing on my phone is reading one of those? There’s an assumption on here everyone is using them for bad things, not good things. Of course there’s loads of TikTok or whatever usage but used “properly” apps like that can build relationships with friends, boost creativity, help people find their interests etc. Yes I’m aware of problems with those apps to, stay on your high horses.

small talk is small talk,no matter if its in person on on your phone .in fact a phone collaboration is anything but social behavior. people will do and say shit on a phone they otherwise wouldnt do . its more anti social behavior than anything else.look at all the comments where people say they would rather be on their phone than engaged in idle chit chat with someone in person . what about your phone is any thing more than banter? its mostly meaningless .anything doing on your phone that is important can be completed in 30 mins a day.outside of that its just an excuse to put someone off .