Missed Moments & Screentime
Discover how excessive technology use can cause you to miss important real-life connections and experiences.
Texting, Facetime, Zoom, Slack - there are so many effective and cost-efficient ways for us to speak with anyone, anywhere in the world. Only 20 years ago, this would be considered a miracle (it still is!)
And yet, our devices can cause us to miss important moments in our lives. Whether it's through a lack of mindfulness, weakened relationships, or diminished personal growth, the impact of being constantly connected online can prevent us from truly connecting in the real world.
Reduced Interactions
Face-to-face communication builds trust, empathy, and the ability to read important non-verbal cues.
Mindful Presence
70% of millennials photograph food before eating, yet we remember less about things we photograph.
Relationship Impact
40% of partnered adults are bothered by how much time their partner spends on their cellphone.
1. Reduced Face-to-Face Interactions
Face-to-face interaction helps children learn social and communication skills like eye contact, body language, and turn-taking. As adults, non-verbal cues build trust, credibility and loyalty. Excessive screentime reduces opportunities for meaningful face-to-face interactions. Non-verbal cues and deep conversations are lost, impacting our relationships and ability to empathize.
The subtle nuances of facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language are essential elements of human connection that can't be fully replicated through digital communication.
2. Loss of Mindful Presence
Nearly 70% of millenials take a photo of their food before eating. And yet, photo impairment effect leads us to remember less about the things we take pictures of. The constant pull of digital distractions makes it difficult to stay present. Whether at family dinners or social events, this loss of mindfulness takes away from life's most meaningful experiences.
The percentage of millennials who photograph their food before eating, while research shows we actually remember less about things we photograph due to "photo impairment effect."
3. Impact on Relationships
Overuse of screens often leads to "phubbing" or ignoring loved ones in favor of your phone, creating tension and eroding the quality of relationships over time. The Pew research center found that 40% of partnered adults say they are bothered by the amount of time their partner spends on their cellphone.
The percentage of partnered adults who report being bothered by the amount of time their partner spends on their cellphone, according to the Pew Research Center.
4. Erosion of Personal Reflection and Growth
Screentime cuts into opportunities for personal reflection. According to Bailey and Rehman's article in the Harvard Business Review, the practice itself is all about learning, looking back on the day (without bias or regret) to contemplate your behavior and its consequences. It requires sitting with yourself, taking an honest moment to think about what transpired, what worked, what didn't, what can be done, and what can't. Reflection requires courage. It's thoughtful and deliberate. Being at the "top of your game" only comes when you extract from your past how to engage the future. Without this time, we miss out on the emotional and mental benefits of introspection, self-awareness, and personal growth.
5. Long-Term Emotional Consequences
Over time, missed moments lead to feelings of regret, loneliness, and even anxiety. The constant focus on digital content over real-world engagement creates a lasting emotional toll. And this shows up in work, at home and at school.
For support on how to reclaim control over screentime and improve your presence, explore our solutions at Scroll by Choice.
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