As technology keeps improving and becoming a central part for the majority of everyone’s lives, screen time keeps increasing as well. This means kids and adults become wrapped up in the world of technology and hardly ever take their eyes off of screens. Even though in this age, most jobs and schools require some type of screen, it remains important to prioritize self care and spend time away from the screen.

As human nature, most need social interaction to help maintain a stable mental health. Instead of face to face, the majority of people now find their interaction on social media, which sometimes affects that person for the worse. This can possibly create anxiety and depression because they become used to being behind a screen as well as not properly socializing outside of the screen with actual people in person. 

When the pandemic hit the United States and everyone went on lockdown, technology use skyrocketed as it became the only escape people found from sheltering at home and the only way to reach and socialize with family and friends. Though phones and other devices became more important than ever to keep in contact with relatives and friends, people still need to enforce some screen limits and take breaks from the virtual world.

Apple and Android products both come with a feature that tracks daily screen time, but average teenagers clock in at around seven and a half hours on their phones. With that seven hours, they possess the ability to go outside and find adventures, spend quality time with friends or family, or even spending quality time with themselves and accomplishing tasks. 

When stepping out of the world of technology and becoming productive, people eventually see a difference in how they feel mentally and physically. To start limiting time on the screen, start with thirty minutes away dedicated to finishing tasks that need to be done and keep going. Scientists recommend only two hours of screen time for adults and teens, which it becomes obvious that they surpassed that by triple the amount. With students and virtual school and with adults working from home, it becomes even more important. 

The pandemic caused negative affects on teens and even adults with the lack of social interaction. With that, it needs to be the first priority to take care of mental health and if that means throwing the technology in a box and coming back to it later, it needs to happen. Instead of being glued to a screen that offers limited interactions, it is time to become glued to the outside world and the people around us, because otherwise, the art of socializing and communicating face to face in person ends up lost for good.