4- Jenna K: The World Beyond the Screen

It’s time to face the truth, we are all addicted to our phones. I, as a seventeen year old girl, am the best person to tell you that fact. We are constantly texting, snapping, or spending hours on end scrolling through TikTok. And it’s not just teenagers, adults and young children are generally just as attached. We’ve even adopted the term “iPad kids” for children who get addicted to these devices before they learn their ABC’s. It has become the new norm for everyone to constantly be on their phones, but there are certain moments in our day to day lives where it is still unacceptable to be distracted and fully immersed in our devices. For as long as I can remember, my family has maintained the “no phones at the dinner table” rule. This applies if we are eating at our own home, someone else’s home, and especially restaurants. I have always believed in this rule, because in my opinion, it is extremely rude to be sitting around a table and staring at your phone when you should be interacting with those around you. The dinner table is not the only place where phones do not belong. Would you want someone texting away at your wedding or sending snaps at your grandma’s funeral? It is simply disrespectful. Although it has become a socially acceptable activity, constant phone use should still be discouraged in certain situations. We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by our phones and forget to be present and attentive in the world around us. Word Count: 258