Are cell phones negatively impacting social communication?

Question

Some backstory, recently I have felt like all of my friends and loved ones around me are so engrossed in their phones they don’t seem to want to interact with other people. Sunday, we all went to a movie, I went to the bathroom while we were still in the theater and by the time I got back my husband and two friends were all sitting on their phones! What are you thoughts?

Answer

I think many people forget to be and live in the moment. 
Some are very addicted to their phones and check their social media constantly, they disregard being present and enjoying life as it is. 
In a positive way, you can be more in touch with loved ones through texting and calls.

Answer

Maybe for some people. They’ve improved my life overall, including how I communicate.

Answer

Its helped me 🤷🏼‍♀️. I still struggle with talking to people, but the internet has helped me to learn how to communicate properly. I was always awful with conversations, but the internet has given me the confidence (due to the debates here and elsewhere) to be able to talk to people without stuttering or looking dumb

Answer

I think in certain ways, yes it is. Technology addiction is a real thing, and it's an open secret app developers made social apps and games with certain colors, notification bursts built in, and many other features purposely to trigger trigger reward and pleasure centers of the brain, and to make people use their products as long as possible. We have no idea the long term ramifications of chronic, 4-6+ hour a day screen time use, and we essentially have no idea how to regulate it. It's possible that cell phones are doing much more than affecting communication. 
That being said, it's also an incredible effective communication and connection tool with near limitless possibilities attached in terms of social organizing. If we can harness it in a non-harmful way, it can be truly incredible.

Answer

Had a friend call me up and say, "Is there an app where I can write stuff down? Like a grocery list so I don't forget what I need?" Lol! I don't know about y'all, but I still use paper and pens.... lol! She said, "I know, but I don't want to have to pull out a list? And carry it around!" I said, "Well hun, paper or your phone, you're still carrying something around." She said, "Its just easier. Plus I don't want to have to sit down and write out a list." But she's gonna type it out on her phone!!! 😂 People don't realize how bad technology really is... phones especially! They're designed to make your life easier, more convenient, yet they have the same affect on your brain as much as drugs, alcohol, porn and video games do and we all know what those other things can do to a person, and how they affect not only the person, but the people around them, like their friends and family, and even their partners and spouses. It definitely affects communication. So yeah...

Answer

I personally try to make sure I set it down and be present. ESPECIALLY with my fiance. If I'm on it in a social situation its likely a family member texting me, not me playing a game so thats my exception. 🤷🏻‍♀️
I always try to have quality time without it because I don't want to live a life 100% attached to my phone.

Answer

For sure. My husband works all day and is home by 5. My son goes to bed at 7. Instead of spending time, hes usually glued to his phone or shitting and glued to the phone. What do you think? Is there a negative impact on his social communication? Haha, for sure..

Answer

Me and my SO are long distance. Our phones positively impacts our relationship. 
My friend on the other hand is in her phone at all times (doesn't matter if we're out eating together or something) and answers uh-hun to everything we say because she doesn't pay attention to what people are telling her. It definitely impacts our communication negatively.

Answer

I’m very anti social media but I won’t get into that. I just believe in the old “everything in moderation” rule. I hate hearing people refer to their phones as “My Life”.
The thing about phones that bothers me is texting. I see couples who expect to talk to each other ALL day. And if you don’t text back fast enough then all of a sudden it creates paranoia and angst. I see too many people who can’t unplug themselves from their phones for even a few hours and quite frankly I find it to be pathetic. Especially when you are at work. It drives me insane when I give a person a project and it takes an hour longer than it should because they keep stopping to fuck with their phone. 
Even better is when you tell a person they can’t listen to music while they do their job. They get all pissy. Your on a retail sales floor with one earbud in or talking on the phone ignoring customers. Its rude. It’s ridiculous. It slows you down. And seriously you shouldn’t have to be on the phone with someone constantly. It’s just immature and shows a lack of focus. I even have people tell me they “NEED” their phone because if they don’t text back a certain person within a certain amount of time they’ll get in trouble. Like wtf seriously?? Get a fucking life. It’s amazing to me how people are willing to risk their jobs just for the sake of texting and social media. Plus the damage it does to relationships. I really believe it makes people crazy.

Answer

I think people just need to learn when to set the damn things down. In a previous post about technology, I wrote that I realised I was addicted to my phone and I literally had no idea until I forgot it at home one day and I kept reaching for it to distract myself for at least an hour or two before I finally stopped being anxious over it. I love my phone. I love that I can pull up a map wherever I am, I can send text updates to anyone in the world at any time, I can make notes so I don't forget things without searching my purse for a pen and paper, I can look up what restaurants are near me when I'm out or look up movie times, the possibilities are endless. However, there is a time and a place for cellphones. The movie theater is not one of them. So is a restaurant, a wedding, Church, when one is DRIVING, for the love of God, put the phone down while driving! Otherwise, a cellphone is a tool, use it when you need it, put it away when you don't.🤷‍♀️

Are cell phones negatively impacting social communication?

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