My Phone Connection

It’s hardly fair to point a finger at the young adults known as Millennials and accuse them of being “addicted” to their phones. After all, you will always find an adult these days who are constantly Googling during a conversation or checking the news during dinner. Yet, Millennials are often on the receiving end of criticism for the amount of time they spend using technology. Some of this is fair — it’s estimated that they log about 10 hours a day online and a whopping 96 percent own a smartphone.

Millennials are the generation everyone is talking about right now. Some blame them for being distant, eccentric and immature, while others say that they are the best generation to come. Our society has faced many addiction problems throughout the years. From the notorious drug and alcohol addiction to smoking which prompted the fight for lung cancer – now, a new kind of addiction is surfacing and affecting a majority of young people worldwide.

It can’t be denied that growing up in the height of the world’s technological boom has its upsides. From easily finding people with the same interests to having a wide pool of resources to promote learning at their own pace – technology has helped Millennials grow to be intelligent, open-minded, and creative-thinking individuals.

Yet, much has been argued on the subject of technology, particularly in relation to Millennials, in recent years:

• is it good or bad?
• is it actually harming young minds?
• is it creating a generation far more removed on a social / relationship basis?

Understanding these impacts is essential if we are to best prepare our younger generations.

Can’t put down your device? Obsessing over social media? You may want to dig into this list and resources to help you reflect on your relationship with technology.

While there is no simple answer, tech today is having an impact that we are still learning to understand, there are steps we can take:

Start small – Technology is gradually finding its way into all spheres of our lives, generally without us really noticing or wanting it to. Creating spaces where there is a ban on technology can help us to switch off intentionally.

This may be difficult to implement in the office, but you can also use the breaks in your daily work routine to have lunch with colleagues or partners, talk about new projects or simply your plans for the weekend. The online world will then simply remain in the office for half an hour. Another little tip: Your mobile phone doesn’t have to go to the toilet with you!

Stop temptation –The problem with the Web-savvy of twenty-somethings is that, at times, it can approach addiction. A good example of this is how it intrudes on work. While the Internet makes many tasks more convenient, it is also a major source of wasted time on the job.

Here’s a tip that works for most: don’t charge it as much as you should. When you see that the battery is somewhere in the 30-50% zone, don’t charge it. Keep using it until it shuts down. You’ll have no choice but to wait until you get home to charge it. Believe me, the world will not end.

Mute your notification – An average smartphone owner  47 times per day. 85% of users do this even while talking to their friends and family. In 2018, an average user  3 hours per day on mobile. Just think about those numbers! We all know that sound, and we all know that without thinking you will be checking your phone instantly. Take away this reaction by turning off notifications.

Avoid using your phone on the bed – The best way to keep yourself from playing with your smartphone when you should be sleeping is to just not keep your device anywhere near your bed. Put your charger over on your desk or, better yet, in another room. Don’t let your phone be the last thing you see at night and the first thing you check in the morning. By using a regular alarm clock and charging your phone out of reach, you won’t be tempted to start your day by getting vortexed into an avalanche of messages and updates.

Get rid of distracting apps – Sometimes you just can’t resist tapping a colorful icon on the Home screen. This is usually the case for games and social media apps. How can one avoid this temptation? Move all addictive apps to the second page where it’s harder to open them spontaneously. You can also group such apps in folders like Games or Social so they’re always one extra tap away from you.

Take a social media detox – Social media is an endless cycle of “liking” or getting “likes”. What happens after the instant hit of dopamine goes away? Taking a social media detox for a month will really open your eyes to the feelings and motivations in the real world. When this comes around to look to do activities that are not based on the phone or in front of a screen. Go outside and enjoy nature. Connect with friends and family face-to-face Most people won’t admit how much social media means, or has meant, to them.

The global casino and gambling industry has become huge among millennials and generates millions of dollars per year in revenue. The industry has been seducing the young minds with its big bonuses and high winning chances, let’s look at this as an example,  a casino bonus is a free money, but do you know which one is the right one for you? If you use the correct bet365 bonus code you can get £100 in bet credits to bet with on the premier league.

Technology is not going anywhere and there is a real danger that it can become an addiction for many young users. We need to understand that it can have real effects on people and prepare ourselves for safe Technology use.