Context: As a student at Georgia State University I witness first hand the excessive amount of technology that students, professors, or even pedestrians walking the streets of downtown Atlanta use everyday. As Atlanta grows and becomes more modern and technologically advanced I get to see just how much people are reliant on the use of technology for everyday activities. As a Business major seeking a degree in Public Relations I am aware of the huge significance that the internet will have in my career field, however, when is the use of the internet/technology too much ?

A sea of students walk through the doors of Student Center East but their eyes never meet. As one person holds the door for another, the same pattern occurs.. A quick, “thank you” is exchanged and almost as if it’s been rehearsed by everyone, their eyes lock onto their phone screen immediately after. The view from the lobby inside of

A look at GSU’s Student Cener East, where this spatial analysis was conducted.

Student Center East consists of large long glass windows that let in the 9 a.m. sunlight and allows for a clear view of

Downtown Atlanta. The skyscrapers stand tall above while the streets are filled with in-raged drivers tapping their fingers rapidly on the steering wheel while having a staring competition with the traffic light, waiting for it to light up green. The pedestrians on the sidewalks are maneuvering around each other with airpods in their ears and phone in their hands trying to get either to school or to work. 

Students speed walk across the busy streets and down the cracked sidewalks in a quick attempt to get out of the frosty, November morning air. An older lady is standing in front of her food stand with a sign that  reads, “Buenos Dias cafe”.

Buenos Dias Cafe in Downtown Atlanta

As she tries to greet the passing individuals, her beaming smile soon goes away as she turns to take a seat instead due to not getting acknowledged by the people who have their minds somewhere else while looking down onto their phones. The people inside the lobby vary from students, professors and custodians. Every morning around this time the student center seems to be the busiest and even then not much interaction can be heard. While some students are sound asleep on the spacious chairs, others have their eyes locked on their phone screens so that the only thing managed to see is the top of their head. The room is so quiet one could hear a pin drop from the other side of the room. As two of the older custodian ladies sit down in the lobby this is the most chatter that has gone on all morning. Throughout the whole conversation between the ladies not one phone was brought out, they both had each other’s attention and their conversation went on as if nobody could hear them. 

Soon, the people who were sitting in the lobby started to make their way out one by one. As the seats start to fill up again not much of a difference is made. The new people who have now taken the spots have secluded themselves into their own little space, free from outside communication. While most students were focused on getting their assignments typed and ready for the day, another student was so entertained by the new episode that he was watching on his ipad that when a club recruiter came to the lobby and announced that his club was meeting on the 2nd floor for anyone interested in stopping by, barely anyone looked up at him… not even with him mentioning the donuts that would be provided. The students in specific are so drawn to the screens of whatever technology they have that they seem to have blocked out the outside world and everybody that is in it. Within the hour of looking out to the lobby of Student Center East, little movement has been made. Although the space has gotten more filled up by many other students who have found an empty couch, still little conversation has gone on besides the custodians who now have had an older man engage into their conversation. 

Outside the building the streets have settled down a bit. Not much traffic is accumulating and

A sunrise taken in Downtown Atlanta

the city doesn’t seem as busy. Still, however, every passing by pedestrian seemed to have their own personal preference of technology plugged in. Whether it be the students walking by with their stuffed backpacks and their airpods in or the lady in her formal business wear who has not only her iPhone in one hand but the Apple Watch to go with it as well and her Starbucks coffee in the other, every passing person seems to have one form or another of technology at their disposal which leads to less real life conversations and interaction  happening around them because of the fact that everyone is so secluded into their own space. 

The use of technology has made daily activities happen more efficiently but ultimately, the excessive use of technology and the internet has lead to many people being disconnected from reality. This can create barriers in communication and weaken problem solving skills. When should students start to worry about the amount of technology they use on the daily and when is it time to take a step back and reflect on the negative impacts that the obsession with technology is starting to have on college students especially.