Not now sweetie, mama's on the phone

Has this phrase been used much more than needed? Has it become an all too familiar habit to check your mobile/facebook/blog every minute? Especially now in the 21st Century where the use of technology has become more prominent in our daily lives. From working class citizens to the top businessmen, everyone's lives seem to be getting more dependent on the use of living and communicating through technology.

Often this is a normal, human thing to do. But when does it go too far into transgression? When does the use of our technology become too much? When parents start neglecting their children to a point at which their children are completely alienated. If mommy just sits there checking her email and daddy is busy at work all day and on the phone all night, who is there to give the child the attention they need? Digital addiction is not only becoming a common issue for teenagers and children, but also for adults as well. For child-development researchers, this is a call for concern.

If the parents are feeling pressured to constantly stay in contact with the workplace, there will not be enough time spent taking care of their child(ren). For some parents, checking the monitor every so often has turned itself into a first priority, or, much like an addiction, a need. Because parents have to divide their attention, they can't be focused on the needs of their children as well as the computer screen. It's also a challenge to persuade a family member to set down their phones at any given moment. You don't know how long "only 5 more minutes" could mean in this situation.

Experts say a simple solution would be smartphones and laptops used in the household, where family interaction could be more likely to take place. If the parents are near their children, they could be aware of what they are doing and could communicate easily without having to be sat at a desk in a cubicle all day. This would overall, improve quality time spent with family.

Personally, I think moderation is key to a more stress-free and healthy lifestyle. By moderating my use of technology, I could have more time to do the things I really should be doing (like finishing this homework assignment before I start talking to my friends online). Admiteddly, I myself am a slave to technology (in this day and age, who isn't?) and sometimes might get carried away with my time online. But as long as I'm alive and well, it won't really matter to me much anyways.