Newsletter (2017-2018) November 2017 Newsletter | Seite 18

SOCIAL MEDIA &
THE DIGITAL AGE
WAKE UP TO THE REAL WORLD!
By June Peng Shuojun
The Internet has influenced many aspects of people’s goodbye. I could have eaten by myself. So what is the
lives, especially university students, because it seems meaning of this meal gathering? Then I watch the
like another fancy world for them. It is not uncommon other tables, and it seems that there is the similar
to find many young “phubbers” — people snubbing
situation happening everywhere. 
others in favour of their mobile phone — around us, in
the railway, bus, classroom and even in the library.
Besides, using the internet too much can be harmful
Obviously, this phenomenon has developed into one for people’s mental health. If students finish their
of their habits. They are addicted to their own world, work, but never spend time with people, they may lose
ignoring people around them, being unsocial. Not
too much communication with society. They could
limited to university students, “phubbing” is also a
ignore family gatherings, miss friends’ parties and act
general phenomenon. Therefore, this article aims to negatively in school activities. Hence, they could be
appeal to those who fall into this addiction to realize indifferent to others because they focus on
the real world, where they are living now.   
entertainment. When they wake up and want to take a
break from their digital world, they will find that they
There are many negative effects of spending too much have missed a lot of connections with others and that
time online, especially for college students. The first there is nobody around them because the Earth never
one is that they easily form a “phubbing” habit. During stops for someone. All things become unfamiliar to
their free time, they chase what they want, such as
them. A gap has been created between them and
playing games or watching TV series. That is exactly
others in their lives, so they may feel lonely. Especially 
right because everyone needs time to relax. However,
the question is that they as students may have less
self-control than working and older adults. As a result,
they are so attracted to these kinds of activities and so
indulgent that they forget about time and other
people. They then easily develop a “phubbing” habit.
Every time I go to restaurant, I find that my friends are
always focusing on their phones, playing games or
looking through social network site. I am left alone
and embarrassed. I try to chat with them, they
interrupt me and ask me to wait for them to finish their
things, but they are never finished. After eating by
ourselves without interacting, we pay the bill then say  PHOTO: Young adults "phubbing" as they wait for
the bus.
NOVEMBER 2017
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18