Digital Disconnection

Our screens promised connection. Instead, they've fractured families, rewired childhood, and left a generation adrift.

- Seema Sangra

A few years ago, whenever we visited a friend's house, she had a strict rule: everyone had to leave their phones at the entrance and only retrieve them when leaving.

At first, I thought this was overly controlling, but I soon understood her reasoning.

Without our devices, we ended up talking, laughing, and enjoying meals together—just like in the old days. However, the children struggled.

They kept interrupting our conversations, complaining there was “nothing to do,” especially since the other kids at the gathering felt the same way.

They sat in bored silence until they were finally allowed to use their phones, after which they mindlessly scrolled through their feeds for the rest of the evening.

This phenomenon isn’t limited to children. Nowadays, it’s all too common to see even parents sitting with family in restaurants, eyes locked on their phones rather than engaging in conversation.

'FOMO' (the fear of missing out) drives many of us to compulsively check our devices. But if we're always connected, why do so many young people feel profoundly lonely and disconnected? A University of Pennsylvania study offers some insight.

Researchers discovered that participants restricted to just ten minutes per social media platform daily reported significantly lower levels of loneliness and depression compared to those who scrolled without limits.

The instant gratification of endless scrolling fuels impulsive behavior, keeping us glued to our screens.

Ironically, those constantly on their phones often justify their habits not just to others, but to themselves, failing to recognize the deeper issue: an unhealthy dependence on digital validation.