OFF YOUR SCREEN!

Have you ever been in a scenario where you are out with your friends, be it to watch a movie, meet them for lunch, or just to hang around town and all they focus on is their smartphones?

Well, like anybody else living in this technologically-driven and digitally-connected world, I have. 

I don't get it, are the people they are meeting up with that boring to talk to? Are their smartphones better companions than their friends?  If that's the case, then why meet up in the first place? 

It's fine if they received a call or text message and they need to check their phones to see if it's anything urgent, but if all they do is check their Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, you name it, I don't see how they should be doing any of that. They can do it on their way home LATER, but when hanging out with friends, just enjoy the meet-up. It's not difficult to give your friends your undivided attention, isn't it? 

Now, having said this, some of you may be eager to ask me, " So, Hans, do you use the phone when you're with friends? ( I bet you do ) ? 

Well, honestly, I BARELY use the phone when out with friends. Like I've mentioned, unless I have an urgent call to answer, I don't see the need to use my phone when I have friends to spend time with. I do use the phone to tweet, check my Facebook and all but I can do those things at home or on the bus later on so why would I prioritise a gadget over people? I ask my friends out for a reason and that's to spend time with them.

So if I don't reply to your SMSes or don't answer some of your calls, chances are I'm with my friends. 



Most of you may be extremely familiar with this quote by Albert Einstein and I think what he said is absolutely right. We often see group of friends outside where all of them would be glued and engaged in their handphones but not talking to each other. 



If that's the case then just stay home and Whatsapp each other in a group, there's no need to meet up. LOL? 

There was this one time when I was travelling on the train with a friend and as I was talking to him, his eyes was glued to his phone. It's alright as he doesn't completely ignore me but I find it extremely annoying. It's like, I'm talking to you dude! Look at me. 

A social campaign called, " Put It On Friend Mode " (www.putitonfriendmode.com) was recently launched which I think is really good. It was initiated by four students from the Nanyang Technological University Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and information. Its purpose is to remind us to put our phones down and give our friends our utmost attention.  





Here are some of their videos

In a nutshell, when you're out with people, try to enjoy their company instead of being engaged in your phone all the time. In my opinion, what bonds people together are those deep conversations and memorable time spent with one another. So nurture your friendships now by getting OFF YOUR SCREEN!