It is estimated that 5.6 billion people own a cell phone, with most users being between the ages of 21 to 30. This age group are more influenced by cell phones, and make up to 77% of smartphone users according to a Journal of Medical Association (Cell Phone Addiction, 2019). While cell phone use is becoming more and more common, it increases the potential to expand our social connections and maintain or enhance our relationships with friends and family. However, it also has unintended negative consequences for immediate social interactions, as its presence serves as a constant reminder of the broader social network that is potentially available. People may often disengage from their present company to attend, either in thought or action, to other people or events elsewhere in cyberspace. They have become so much a part of young adults’ lives that many do not realize their level of dependence and/or addiction to their cell phones (Roberts, 2015). They have become an almost invisible driver of modern life.
With this problem, of cell phone addiction affecting people’s face to face conversations and interactions, I would like to look into ways that motion design could be used to inform people of this invisible driver that they may not realize is affecting them. I believe that design can solve this problem by bringing attention to it in a way that they can see and understand. By creating a motion piece that informs people of this problem, I hope that it opens up a conversation that gets people to reevaluate how they are spending their time, and be more present with the people and world around them.
Bibliography
Cell Phone Addiction: A Rising Epidemic. (2019, July 31). Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 69(7), 928. Gale Academic OneFile. https://go-gale-com.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/ps/i.dop=AONE&u=auraria_main&id=GALE|A595001817&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon
Roberts, J. A., Pullig, C., & Manolis, C. (2015). I need my smartphone: A hierarchical model of personality and cell-phone addiction. Personality and Individual Differences, 79, 13–19. https://www-sciencedirect-com.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S019188695000847