Confession time: I admit to being a devoted cellphone user. Upon waking, my first instinct is to fumble for my phone, connecting me to the world. At night, it sleeps beside me, monitoring my sleep cycle and heart rate. I grab it at the slightest hint of a traffic jam and it’s been my savior in countless tedious meetings (thanks to my Candy Crush skills) and less-than-stellar first dates (“Sorry, got an urgent call”).
I’m not alone; research from Harvard Business School suggests that 70% of smartphone users check their phones within an hour of waking, and 51% compulsively check during vacations. The phenomenon has even led to rehab centers for cellphone and technology addiction.
However, many of us experienced life in the “Before Cellphone” (BC) era, with limited access to the virtual world. Lately, I’ve been challenging myself to stow away my cellphone for half-hour intervals. During these breaks, I’ve reflected on our pre-cellphone era, wondering how we lived, learned, loved, and fought. Here are seven things we did differently:
1. **Play in the BC Era:** We roamed neighborhoods with just a ball, engaging confidently with whoever joined the evening’s garden gathering. Friendship wasn’t restricted by school or parent’s workplaces. Social status vanished at the playground entrance, with only the rule of returning home before dark.
*Now:* Scheduled playdates with precise timelines and predetermined activities in today’s hyper-connected world.
2. **Arguments in the BC Era:** Friendly debates over country capitals could last for days without an immediate fact-check. Confidently stating dubious information often led to triumph.
*Now:* All arguments are swiftly resolved by a quick Google search.
3. **School in the BC Era:** We genuinely learned spellings and mathematics, calculating CD prices in rupees without the aid of a calculator.
*Now:* Spellings, calculations—autocorrect and calculators have it covered.
4. **Love in the BC Era:** Prank calls, crank calls, and endless landline conversations created excitement. Without caller ID, pretending during calls could persist.
*Now:* Decode emojis after sending a thumping heart.
5. **Photographs in the BC Era:** Family vacations required strategic planning for the perfect photo. Constant snapping wasn’t an option, and some moments were immortalized unintentionally, like when Dad exposed all the carefully taken photos.
*Now:* Every moment is captured by countless phone cameras for Instagram.
6. **Conversations in the BC Era:** Real conversations involved listening and speaking.
*Now:* Conversations today often mean monosyllabic responses while multitasking on various messaging platforms.
7. **Sense of Direction in the BC Era:** Frequent getting lost was part of the adventure, relying on directions like “take a left after the neem tree.”
*Now:* Siri and Google Maps eliminate diversions and keep us on the beaten path.
While acknowledging the necessity of phones, I can’t help but feel we’ve chained ourselves to the ultimate frenemy. Phones are productive yet have the potential to enslave, control, and rob us of unique human interactions. After years of constant cellphone use, I find solace in moments without notifications and pings, reminiscent of the contemplative luxury of childhood summer evenings. Happy emoji.