Viewpoint – Stop looking at the phone, make a friend

Arelys Morales Conty/campus editorThe first days of a new class can be daunting, but it can also be a great opportunity to meet new people and make lifelong connections, if only everyone would look up from their phones.

Social media is both a blessing and a curse, but it can be more of the latter in daily life. Although it provides students with easier communication, it’s not always helping them connect with those around them.

When students are focused on their phones, they get trapped in a small bubble and forget about those in front of them. They become more and more self-absorbed when they hide away in their phones.

Students miss out on conversations and important parts of their daily lives when they’re focused on a screen. They often experience it through their phones instead of experiencing it for themselves.

According to Psychology Today, because social media is so accessible with smartphones, people excessively check them every chance they get.

Social media is definitely a vice for some people, but that doesn’t mean it’s evil. There needs to be a balance to avoid abusing it. 

Instead of checking it throughout lunch on campus, students can strike up a conversation with those around them and make new friends.

A quick way to break the ice in any new class is to chat with classmates while waiting for a class to start. They can discuss their expectations for the course and make connections.

Talking to others for the first time can be difficult, but the rewards of social interaction are far greater than what social media can provide.

For college students, meeting new people is an essential part of the experience. They get exposed to new cultures and stories that will enrich their own lives and help them better understand others.

Of course, not all students are guilty of hiding in their phones, but it remains a habit for many nonetheless.

It’s not too late for anyone to curb the habit. Students should disconnect from social media more often and explore the world beyond their small screen.