For many students, college is an experience often defined by change. Many students move to UT from different cities, states or countries. Meeting new people, forming new habits and growing up is an integral part of the college experience. 

In today’s age, technology is an inevitable aspect of this new identity. 

In a recently published study, Pew Research revealed that approximately 96% of 18-29 year olds in the U.S have a smartphone. On the professional side, technology is necessary to succeed in modern work environments. It’s also an important personal tool.

Technology is now a crucial part of popular culture, especially for teenagers and young adults. It is often the main form of communication between friends, and can connect us to people we may not have otherwise met.

Taylor Rea, a third year math major and Vice President of the Longhorn Outdoor club, explained how technology helped integrate her into a wider community. 

“(Technology is) what’s connecting everybody to our org … this org brings a lot of different people together, and it’s always nice to get to talk to everybody and hear all these voices that you wouldn’t have otherwise,” Rea said.

In Rea’s case, technology was the tool that connected her to a broader group of people. However, there is a time and place to use technology.  

“When you can’t just sit there on your phone, you’re kind of, I don’t want to say, forced to talk to everybody and get to know everybody, (but) like forced in a good way,” Rea said. “It gives opportunity for everybody to get to know each other.”

Clearly, our relationship with technology is not clear-cut. However useful it may be, we must also consider its effects.

In another Pew Research survey, 72% of teenage parents polled felt their child was at least sometimes distracted by a smartphone during conversation. About a quarter of teenagers reported feeling upset when not in possession of their device. 

While technology itself is not the issue, our relationship with technology can be. When we decide to pick up our phones, we gain access to a world of information. But we also lose something in return: a connection to the people around us, the things in the real world. 

Until we put technology outside our main focus, we cannot get this connection back. 

Talia Pamensky, the Director of School Partnerships and Research at Finding Focus and post-baccalaureate at the UT Applied Psychology Research Lab, outlined how students can handle technology in a healthy way.

“I think it’s about having awareness…it’s all about moderation and balance,” Pamensky said.  “Time is a finite resource and you should use it towards things that are beneficial for you.”

Just like any other relationship, we must approach our connections to technology with nuance. 

Ransom is a psychology junior from San Antonio, Texas.