The widespread nature of technology has made connecting to one another effortless. Social media ignites online conversations, but has it caused a disconnection from reality?

On any given day, at Mesa College, one can walk by hundreds of students all hurrying to get to class on time. Nothing out of the ordinary, at first glance, but upon further inspection it becomes clear that a majority of students are walking with their gaze fixed on the smartphone in their hands, which becomes problematic when moving through campus turns into an intense real life version of Frogger.

While most individuals are focused on themselves, detaching from technology will allow someone to experience life differently. If an individual decides to detach from technology, they are more aware of their surroundings and can engage with the real world. Take a step back and look at other students. There are not many face-to-face conversations going on. People are mostly interacting with others via text. Individuals seem to not appreciate their surroundings. This might seem odd to do, but just take a moment to appreciate the little things around you, take a break from texting or Facebook or technology in general and get a breath of fresh air.

Even though access to technology is necessary for college students, it should not consume a majority of one’s day.

According to MarketingCharts, college students spend 12 hours a day with media. Over nine hours of that time is spent with computers, mobile devices, MP3 players and gaming devices. 12 hours seems a bit excessive, even for college students who rely on technology for school-related purposes. With that being said, one might believe that college students have grown too dependent on their technology.

Are college students becoming victims of a society that thrives on staying in-touch with one another?

There is no doubt that technology has a strong grip on certain individuals. People are becoming more dependent on technology, it’s alarming.

When being utilized in a productive manner, technology has many advantages. Not only does it allow for easy communication, it also allows for individuals to broaden their knowledge. Information is easy to access, which makes the life of a college student more manageable. While technology can be beneficial with education, it can stifle social abilities.

Individuals who spend hours on Facebook and disconnect from reality are essentially isolating themselves. Isolation can be detrimental to an individual’s health.

According to U.S. News, loneliness shows up in measurements of stress hormones, immune function, and cardiovascular function. Detaching from reality and becoming absorbed in a virtual world can be the downfall of many individuals. It is physically damaging as well as socially damaging, due to the fact that individuals are unable to appropriately express themselves.

Rather than becoming immersed in technology, individuals should be more aware of what is going on around them. It does not take much to acknowledge others and ultimately all will benefit from one another being 100% present rather than just existing and going through the motions of life. It seems that moderation is key. There needs to be a healthy balance between reality and what goes on in cyberspace.