My Relationship with the Internet

I spend a lot of my time glued to my phone. I carry it around like I can't live without it. I use it for all forms of communication and it has both positive and negative effects. In the past I have made a lot of friends through technology, it's opened me up to a lot of people from different schools and areas. I also get updates on world news and am able to be kept up to date with major events. Without technology I wouldn't have access to a lot of this information. However, this technology also creates jealousy and depression. With apps like snapchat and instagram, you're always able to view what other people are doing and as a natural instinct we compare what we have to what others have. This causes jealousy and ungratefulness when we are privileged and should be thankful for what we have. Also, everything on the internet is one-sided and you never know the full story so things can easily be misinterpreted and it causes problems in friendships and relationships. I struggle with this because I forget that people are using technology to portray themselves in a certain way, and I get caught up in this false reality that is created. I end up making a lot of comparisons with people online and my own life which is unhealthy. Recently I have tried to disconnect from technology, but it's become such a big part of my life that when I am not using it I feel lost and I don't know what to do with myself. It's become too big a part of my life and sometimes I wish I never began using technology because in a way I've lost touch with my true self. I keep it because it has beneficial factors and I am working towards finding a balance in my life where I can block out the negative impact that the internet has had with my life.