As we rush into a future driven by technology, we often overlook the richness of the present moment. This is certainly the case with the young generation of today. Gen Z and the Generation Alpha may not wish their relatives a good morning face-to-face, but would send cheerful greetings on their WhatsApp groups. Festivals, once celebrated with enthusiasm with family members and friends are now, more often than not, all about curating the perfect Instagram story. The urge to show the world that you wore the best, ate the best and had the best time is more than actually understanding how that best can be achieved. Fake is okay as long as it creates a good impression. People today are spending less time decorating homes for festive occasions and but significantly more on decorating the Facebook walls, Instagram stories and WhatsApp statuses.

 

This immersion in technology has transformed how we interact with one another. Nearly 90 percent of the people I know, ranging in the age group of 17 to 60 years of age, dedicate their mornings to scrolling through reels. During my morning walks, I rarely see people chatting with one another; instead, I see individuals with earbuds plugged in, some music on and they are just walking alone. This shift has not only diminished human interaction but has also impacted our concentration levels. Alarming statistics suggest that the attention span of a phone addict is merely 8-12 seconds-comparable to that of a drug addict. Look around you right now, and you are most likely to spot someone engrossed in his/her phone, disconnected from the world around him/her.

 

The slavery to putting up a shiny outwardly image is a peculiar behaviour that affects our mental and physical health and breeds insecurities. We scroll through images of friends and family members as well as influencers, seeing them at their best and comparing ourselves to them. We might get mesmerised by their presumably glowing life and feeling conscious about our own imperfections. It is crucial to recognise that these digital addictions can consume our energy and erode our connections, much like termites eating away at wood. Now, more than ever, we need to become self-aware and reintroduce ourselves to meaningful habits that generations before us valued. Moderation is the key. Technology can better our lives, but, at the same time, its excessive use can be detrimental. It’s time to reclaim our presence in the real world, fostering genuine connections with one another and engaging in moments that truly matter.