At some point in the last decade it’s become commonplace, even accepted, to whip out our smartphones at the slightest lull in conversation to catch up on our digital lives instead of the social scene in front of us.
It’s why you see people on dinner dates independently scrolling Instagram feeds. Checking in on something more interesting, apparently, than what and who is at their table.
But we didn’t always have smartphones to distract us. Perhaps we used to pass the time with a book. Wouldn’t it look odd to whip out a book at dinner with friends to fill an awkward silence? So why have we normalized this behavior with smartphones?
I’m much more aware of this while I’ve been relatively shut off from anything interesting on my phone these past few weeks. I certainly feel more present in the moment, but it’s a double edged sword, because I also notice how absorbed most people are with their devices.
It can be frustrating to be the only person in the room with a “dumb” phone.