DIGITAL INDEPENDENCE

Why Screen Time Matters?

- Sandesh Bhosle

“Now, I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.” I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase as the wave of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer bombarded all over the globe. Well, in today’s time, according to the Tenet director, AI could have its Oppenheimer moment soon, but are you aware of the slow death? In easy words, the thirst to keep yourself entertained (instead of hydrated) by staying glued to your smartphone screens.

Wherever you are, be it on a jam-packed train, at the hospital, or walking in a park, the place doesn’t matter; you will notice hundreds of people in a day with their heads glued to the screens. Nobody has time to look up and live like humans are destined to live. We are addicted to smartphones and are completely dependent on them; for what? Only to kill boredom, as we can not spend an hour without checking our phones.

Just came back after having a look at my phone. Though I didn’t get any notifications, I still ended up spending close to 10 minutes on it. Now, why are our minds not keeping up with the fact that longer screen time can harm us? Sadly, over the years, we’ve built ourselves around smartphones, by spending too much time on gaming, chatting, binge watching, scrolling on social media, and whatnot.