Social media, games, apps, and online websites have become a part of our everyday lives. When I wake up, the first thing I always do is check my phone. It has become my daily ritual, and I’m sure many feel the same way. I didn’t realize how much time I spend on my phone until I decided to log off all social media apps. It seemed impossible at first, but I knew that it was the right thing to do. Without my phone as a distraction, I was able to get things done. Less time was being wasted, and that meant more time to do the things I enjoy.

There are a variety of pros and cons to apps. Apps are extremely helpful, they can be used for learning, socializing, calculating, writing, graphing, news, weather, music, school, money, and many other uses that make life much easier. Apps have totally transformed our world, creating an efficient way to gather information and communicate with others. Although apps continue to educate and aid our society, we have grown dependent upon our modern technology. You no longer have to search for the definition of a word in the dictionary-that definition can be found at the click of a button. Apps are also known to become addictive.  For example Flappy Bird creator Nguyen Ha Dong pulled his game from the App Store and Google Play because it was too addictive.

So, are apps helpful, or are they just wasting our time? The answer is both. Certain apps can waste our time, but others save our time. It’s up to us to determine that, and to put down our phones when they are getting in between us and the outside world. We can make the decision to avoid wasting our time. Eliminating apps that are likely to take up our time, is proven to aid us in becoming more productive. There are many other ways to communicate other than social media. Giving friends and family a call or writing them a letter is much more thoughtful than sending them a text or dm. Addictive games like Flappy Bird should be avoided to save time. Apps that spread ideas, like Youtube, teach and inspire others, which isn’t considered a waste of time. The weather and time app are great for finding out information fast and making reminders for ourselves. It’s our job to use apps in an efficient way, without wasting our time. Before you open an app, ask yourself “Is this going to waste my time?” If so, choose a more productive alternative.

Sources:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/flappy-bird-taken-down-as-it-was-an-addiction-that-had-to-be-stopped-permanently-says-creator-dong-9120689.html