Cellular deprivation: the seven-day challenge

I love my laptop. When it comes to music, streaming videos, live podcasts, Facebook notifications and, of course, homework, it is my best friend. My cell phone is also a must have. It keeps me connected to my friends and family, and gives me the ability to kill ridiculous amounts of time with dozens of apps and games.

But these gadgets come with a price: a loss of interest in the real world.

One of the first things I do as soon as I get out of bed is check my phone or computer for notifications, emails and updates. I must check these things so I can have the comfort of knowing I haven't missed texts from my friends, messages I've received or comments on my Facebook. It has become a sort of update on "reality."

But the truth is that these waves of data floating through the air, telling us how our friends are feeling and what is going on in the world, are only a glimpse into reality.

As a society in tune with the Internet and its vast array of social networks, we rely heavily on these sources to give us the most accurate information. What we fail to realize is that someone else, who may not always be telling the truth, is typing away behind another computer. We end up believing these half-truths and assume that everything we read is honest to a fault.

Sites like Facebook are a breeding ground for false personalities and faux lifestyles. They've created a world where meeting a person is as simple as accepting a friend request and liking a post.

The big problem with this is that we rarely put down our mobile devices or step away from the computer to meet people the way we should: face to face.

We have become desensitized. We have our eyes so focused on screens that we fail to enjoy the virtue of real companionship. We walk around ignoring all sorts of neat and interesting people to read or respond to a meaningless text. Instead of appreciating the beautiful weather and amazing scenery outside, we turn a blind eye and glue our eyes to our phones.

I have become increasingly disturbed by this problem and feel I need to make a change. For this reason I am challenging myself to not use my cell phone or Facebook for a week, with the exception of phone calls. I am making an effort to meet people on a deeper level, and I challenge you to do the same.

Just give it a try. Who knows, you might run into someone beautiful and unexpected.