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My Phone=My Life

Most of us can’t get through the day without our cell phones. We feel naked and separated from society; we have to consistently be in the know. We constantly use them in the car, walking down the street and working out; we even attempt to discretely mess around on them in restaurants.

Some are so in love with their cell phones that they are taking them to the grave. An article posted on The Huffington Post, revealed some people are taking cell phones, BlackBerrys and Wii consoles with them when they are buried.

Isn’t this a little ridiculous?

Most of us use our cell phones for basic features: phone calls, texts and e-mails. In this generation, however, we use cell phones for much more. We have to immediately be aware of anything posted on Facebook and Twitter, and thousands of apps are now available for free. From ESPN to Urbanspoon, at the tip of your fingers, you easily find apps capable of providing any kind of information.

Multimedia has officially consumed our lives, and it’s becoming very clear that some people just can’t seem to live without it. According to a study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, teens between the ages of 8 and 18 devote an average of seven hours and 38 minutes over the course of a typical day to media use. This includes cell phone, iPod, video game and TV use.

As PR majors, we are encouraged to have multimedia on our mind every second of the day. We are taught to be aware of the news and to be accessible to all forms of social media.

Are we leading ourselves into a black hole?

The PR industry has turned into a 24/7 job. We have to be available to the public any time of the day. But when it comes to managing our time, when is it okay to step away and take a break from technology? What if a crisis takes place when we are separated from our smart phones? As with many jobs, you have to find balance and know when it’s time to put the phone down.

As much as we would all like to deny that phones aren’t vital parts of our lives, I think that would be difficult to do. Cell phones are a huge convenience, and without them, life just wouldn’t be the same.

By Paige Niewerth

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    How true! As a recent PR graduate from UA, I find myself wanting to stay updated about everything. I constantly use my phone to update Facebook and Twitter. Without mobile e-mail, I would be lost.

    I do think it’s important to find a balance between being available 24/7 in the PR field and spending time unwinding from work and enjoying family. Years ago PR professionals didn’t have to worry much about what was happening until the next paper was printed. Today, news stories are updated around the clock. But just because Fox News runs stories day and night doesn’t mean you have to lose sleep. If a crisis hits, trust me you will know it in plenty of time.

    As I post this comment from my Droid, I am performing a last minute check on e-mails. But trust me, I know when to take a break…as long as you don’t post anything on my wall in the middle of the night. – Scott Young

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