Interesting story on 60 Minutes that shows how smart phones are creating a generation of isolated children and youth. There is a directed correlation between the time the young spend on digital engagement and their level of social isolation.
To make matters worse, in children, it impacts the development of their brains. One study shows that teens that spend less than 30 minutes a day on their phones, are socially engaged and significantly happier.
Given that the average teen spends over four and a half hours a day on their smart phones, the future generation will have its challenges.
Us adults should share some of the blame. We text more, and talk less. Spend hours buried in our phones and get our social cues from social media. The more engaged we appear, the more isolated we tend to get. Note to self — less time on the phone. More time to smell the roses and enjoy the outdoors.
About Hemant Rustogi