My Digital Experience

A common stereotype about young people is that many of them are addicted to technology and disconnected from reality. While this is true in many circumstances, teenagers are a broad demographic, and many of them are not addicted to their devices.

My digital experience started very young. My family had a computer when I was very little and as a result, I learned computer literacy in kindergarten. By the time I was five years old, I could navigate websites on a computer, print, and download documents. This was significant for a young child, because technology was less integrated into society then.

Despite this, I didn’t spend much of my childhood interacting with the Internet. I watched YouTube sparingly and had a penchant for looking up fun facts whenever I was bored, a habit that continued until I started middle school.

Middle school is the place where hormones begin to ramp up and kids get their first taste of maturity. Pre-teens will attempt to look mature through crass language and humour, adult media, and, of course, technology. Around this age, kids are often granted access to a phone, which they often use to their advantage. Thus, social media usage is widespread in these environments.

I never really got into the usual gossip about peers on Instagram, nor the accounts that anonymously took photos of students, made them look like couples, and painted it as an innocent thing. I did embrace some content on the Internet where there was an intersection of topics I liked, such as media and politics. I was already a very opinionated child, and seeing people vocalize their views in the recorded form was awe-inducing. However, many of these spaces can be intolerant towards people who have different opinions. As an already angry seventh grader, seeing this content wasn’t always beneficial.

Despite this, I never interacted with people on the Internet. I was very socially conscious and afraid of judgment. I viewed the Internet as a hub of creativity and not a melting pot of good, evil, and all that’s in between…until the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sometime in 2020, a friend of mine encouraged me to download various social media platforms, including Instagram, to communicate during the pandemic. I agreed, despite my skepticism. Little did I know, it would be a major regret, yet a formative experience for me. 

I had a lot of niche interests as a pre-teen, and not many people in my middle school had common interests with me. I used my friend’s request to my advantage and befriended people with similar interests. This turned out to be an unwise decision for several reasons. The majority of these people were older than me, which resulted in awkward conversational dynamics. This also meant that some people were happy to take advantage of vulnerable populations on such apps, me included. Anonymity also meant that borderline illicit activities occurred. Being present in this environment as a middle schooler was very unnerving, and I got involved in my fair share of drama.

This was an important learning experience for me: always listen to your gut. Following this episode, I abandoned social media, except for an Instagram account I used to interact with my peers.

Now, I’m 17 years old. I’ve finalized my university applications. I still don’t use social media in any capacity. People find it to be odd, but I believe it’s for the better. I’m happier, and I find myself focusing on school, hobbies, and my real friends, all of which I find more fulfilling than talking to older people on the internet based on movie taste.

That’s not to say that the Internet or social media is all bad. You can find an incredible wealth of knowledge, like a modern-day Alexandria. It’s also amazing how people can communicate for free.However, I see more people swept up in their phones regularly, disregarding the many pursuits that life has to offer. Influencer drama and the 10-second videos on TikTok don’t contribute to your well-being  rather, they are a symptom of greater societal issues. You shouldn’t base your personality on an online trend, but the Internet can help you discover your passions. There are great things happening in the digital world, but seeing young children with mobile phones is pretty concerning for their development.

All I’m saying is, put down your phone, and go outside and smell the roses sometimes. Life is way more than that Instagram story. Putting the phone down to do something else can be beneficial for your personal development and mental health.