Zombies have officially arrived at Point Park — but not the kind you’re thinking of. These zombies are students who are so sucked into technology, so much so that they don’t look away from their phone while crossing the street.
In fact, many of the new students never look away from their phones when I observe them. Whether it’s on the elevator, in class, crossing the street or even hanging out with others, they all stare into the blue-light generator in their pockets.
It’s not just phones either. I have seen several students around campus walking around with iPads, using them as comically large phones to text others.
This pattern seems to cause various people to have not-so-great situational awareness.
For example: almost every day on the elevators around campus, everyone looks at their phone screens. Sometimes, this will cause them to miss their floor. They then have to ride the elevator longer, sometimes for another cycle, to get back to their floor.
It’s not just a theme with the first-year students either. Students of all years are doing this, but it’s prevalent in first-year students.
What adds onto this mystery is that this wasn’t as common last year.
I’ve also seen people getting onto the elevators or walking around blasting whatever they’re watching on TikTok in an elevator full of people, as if they’re the only ones in the elevator.
These are only the least atrocious examples I’ve seen of this. Several students, for example, will sometimes walk across the road with oncoming traffic, not paying any mind to their surroundings. Only when they’re in the middle of the road do they realize that a vehicle is coming towards them. Thankfully they always run to the other side before anything bad happens to them.
However, this doesn’t excuse the fact that technology is turning people into zombies.
Perhaps one of the worst things I’ve seen is people not looking away from their screens in class, where they should be focusing. We all pay for these classes, so why not pay attention in class, as opposed to wasting money for a class that you don’t listen to or participate in?
Not only is it rude to the instructor who’s trying to teach something to every student in that class, but it’s also rude to yourself. By flooding your brain with blue-light, you do not gain the knowledge you normally would.
There are some great multitaskers, though. Some people can retain information in class while being actively occupied on their phones. I commend them for that, because I am not like that at all.
People should try to put their devices down periodically and try to experience their surroundings and lives. The urge to use technology is very tempting, but it is also worth it to try to separate yourself from that urge. It’ll unlock many different avenues, and you’ll start seeing things that you hadn’t noticed before.
When it comes down to it, being aware of your surroundings is more important than whatever is grabbing your attention on your devices.
