Walking down the road stood a long grand street bustling with all kinds of noises, but it was all traffic noises when listened to closely. Not a whisper in the crowd, just the occasional soft chime. Under the shade, while waiting for public transport, a group of teenagers sit together, but no noise is heard from their corner. With their heads down, thumbs viciously tapping, while the bright screen of their phones reflects on their faces.

The boy wearing a blue crew neck laughs at the screen of his phone, perhaps at a meme. Meanwhile, the other boy next to him wearing a tank seems to be typing away at lightning in reply to a message or posting on social media. The boys are sitting side by side with each other in reality, but somehow it looks like a barrier exists between them and each of them is in another dimension.

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Even on public transport, people are captivated by their screens, some with headphones on, seemingly lost in a digital world. The city's sound and the captivating scenery of skyscrapers fail to draw their attention. It seems as if the sense of an individual’s self-awareness has been completely lost. The observation of teenagers constantly being on their phones sparked a thought in my mind.

The question lingers about whether digital immersion has improved our lives or has come at a cost. Undeniably, we are one of the first generations to grow up with devices around us, thus making the impact of technology on modern society uncertain.

The presence of technology seems to pervade in every corner. It’s in coffee shops, where teens gather but barely look up from their devices. It’s in classrooms, where the glow of a phone sneaks out from under desks, competing with the teacher’s voice. It’s even at family dinners, where the silent rhythm of scrolling accompanies the clink of silverware.

Technology has become so seamlessly woven into the fabric of teenage life that it’s almost invisible, yet its effects are anything but subtle. It clearly shows that the effects of technology are profoundly influencing all aspects of life.

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Picture a young child sitting in their room, with a laptop propped up on their desk attending a class virtually online. The teacher’s voice rumbles in the background, but the child is distracted by a new notification that pops up from the right of the screen. Quickly the child engages the notification by clicking on it and thus they’re on a different app, scrolling through videos, or responding to a friend’s message. The teacher continues to drone on in the background and go through the lesson. The child’s attention drifts away from the lesson and does not give a care in the world.

The use of technology in acquiring knowledge serves as more of a double-edged sword, as it offers a platform to seek knowledge, but also creates immense distractions.

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Picture a group of teens having lunch together on a weekend, with the clanging of metal silverware and the soft hum of ambient music from the restaurant filling the air. Plates of food sit in front of them, but no one seems to take a bite or even care about the aroma wafting from the dishes.

The group of teens, instead of talking with each other, are all huddled around a phone, watching a video, or taking turns posing for pictures together. Even when they’re talking to each other, they’re referring to something that is on their phones—a meme, or an interesting video they just witnessed.

All of their real-world interactions often revolve around the digital world. Their eyes flicker between each other’s faces and their screens, their attention divided, never fully present in the moment. The food grows cold as they snap picture after picture, posting it on social media.

This seems to be the norm for many teens today. Social media has not just become a way to share experiences, but it’s become the experience itself for many teens.

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The most troubling part of technology is arguably social media, but it’s the moments spent on social media that remain unseen which are arguably the most significant, and most harmful. Picture a teenager lying in bed late at night, the blue glow of their phone illuminating the dark, dim room. Their thumbs hover over the screen, scrolling through an endless feed of pictures of others’ vacations in exotic countries, captivating selfies, and well-taken portraits.

A friend posts a picture from a party at an exclusive club that they did not know was happening. Another influencer posts about waking up in the city of Paris, France, and looking over the Eiffel Tower. Every post the teenager sees seems to send a message that implies they are not good enough.

The teen thinks that they are not successful, attractive, or popular enough. The teen then scrolls to their posts and sees that the likes on their latest post haven’t reached the number they hoped for. Their hearts sink and they wonder if they’re not interesting enough. Social media, once a source of entertainment and connection, now feels like a weight pressing down on their chest.

However, technology isn’t inherently evil. Technology serves as a tool and similar to all tools all it boils down to is how it’s used. Another teenager could be in the library with their headphones on, watching a video on acid-base theory in chemistry. Their faces lit up after finally learning about the concept of acid-base theory, with the help of the tutorial video. Or even the other teen who is interested in environmental conservation efforts and uses their social media platform to educate their community about preserving the environment.

The social media account also allows them to connect with like-minded influencers who encourage and inspire other netizens to help the cause. For every instance of isolation, there are also instances of teens using technology to learn, create, and connect in ways that were impossible for previous generations.

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The question then is not whether technology is good or bad, instead is it how it is being used. For the group of teenagers, as the bus pulls up and they board, their phones never leave their hands. After a short glance out the window, their attention is quickly drawn back to their screens.

Teens are living in a digital world and the impact of technology is shaping them in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Looking at the impact of technology that has impacted teens through space and time we are only left to wonder: what will the long-term effects be? Will the digital immersion of technology be enchanted in everything?

For now, all we can do is question the use of technology and hope that the tools meant to enhance our lives don’t end up defining who we are.