We live in a society where people can not be in a room without their phones. We always claim we need it. We always say, “I will be fine without it.” Or some people do admit that they are addicted. A story from Wired said that “Even Teens Worry That Teens Are Addicted to Their Phones. A Pew study finds that 54 percent of US teens ages 13 to 17 worry they spend too much time on their phones, and 52 percent have taken steps to cut back. Among those who say they spend too much time on their phones, 53 percent have cut back on mobile usage.” Everyday people in high school feel the urge to reach for their phone during class time or during lunch. Instead of doing homework or actually socializing with their lunch table. I asked a couple of my peers what they think about their relationship with their phones.

I asked an 8th grader, Gus Kim, what his relationship with his phone is like. He responded, ” well I misplace my phone all the time so I don’t really use it because I leave it everywhere. I usually spend my time during lunch sitting on the bridge with my babies cutting their limbs.” To be clear there is a student that gives him the small plastic babies that are found in King Cakes. They can represent luck and prosperity if found. Gus doesn’t have social media so he doesn’t go on his phone that much anyway except to play clash royale. 

I then asked Zara Linemen, a classmate of Gus’s who is on the opposite spectrum. When I asked Zara she pulled up her data of how long she uses each app. She asked me not to share her data but she has commented,” I go on my phone to rant. I go on to spread the word about social issues that people need to know about, I post information on how people can help and support those who are hurt by the way the system works. I try to bring awareness to situations that I see to be important.” She loves the way social media works so she can do that. 

I then asked Nicole Yu, a seventh grader at Whitney Young. When asked what her relationship is like with her phone she responded with, ” I don’t use my phone much. Mostly because I can’t do a lot on it. My parents have restrictions on what I can or can not do. So I usually play games or do homework from my phone.” Like most academic students their parents do not allow them social media or they put a limit on what they can or can not do. So students like Nicole whose parents put a hold on what she can do. It makes sense that she doesn’t do much with her phone. 

I asked all academic students because I know being a senior in High School that I constantly go on my phone. Either to avoid situations or to look something up help carry the conversation. It can be helpful and harmful at the same time. So it’s important to help bring awareness to the cell phone issues.