The Mobile Generation
By: Zaheer Ahmed Awan
If we compare human life before and after the invention of the mobile phone, it feels as though humanity has crossed from one world into another. Before this tiny device entered our hands, people had time real time for their parents, children, siblings, friends, and neighbors. Even after long working hours, families would sit together, share stories, discuss life, and strengthen bonds. Relationships were deeper, emotions were sincere, and human connection was genuine.
Before mobile phones, children eagerly visited their grandparents during holidays. People knew their relatives and neighbors personally, not through WhatsApp or Facebook. Communication was simple yet meaningful a heartfelt conversation instead of a quick message. Society was connected by empathy, not by networks.
Then came the remarkable invention the mobile phone which changed human interaction forever.
In 1973, engineer Martin Cooper of Motorola made the world’s first mobile phone call, and in 1983, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X became the first commercial mobile device. It was celebrated as a revolutionary achievement bringing people closer, making communication instant, and shrinking the world into what we now call a “global village.”
However, over the years, what began as a convenience gradually turned into a dependency and for many, an addiction. Today, the mobile phone is no longer in our control; rather, we are controlled by it.From children to adults, students to professionals, and even the elderly everyone is immersed in their screens. Family dinners have turned silent, gatherings are replaced with group chats, and smiles have turned into emojis. Parents, children, and siblings often communicate through family WhatsApp groups while sitting in the same house.
We used to say: “Talking on the phone is half a meeting.”
Now it seems that the entire meeting happens through the phone.
While mobile phones have brought convenience and global connectivity, they have also damaged the very fabric of our social and family life.
They have weakened the family system.
Replaced real connections with digital ones.
Contributed to moral decline and ethical detachment.
Increased mental stress, loneliness, and depression.
Reduced children’s concentration and learning capacity.
And created widespread sleep and attention disorders.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2024, around 38% of global youth suffer from some form of digital addiction or screen dependency. Psychologists now classify mobile overuse as a major cause of anxiety, social isolation, and emotional numbness.
Across the world, governments and organizations are responding:
- Japan has launched a “Digital Detox Program,” encouraging young people to spend one day a week without mobile phones.
- China, in 2023, legally restricted screen time for minors to a maximum of two hours per day.
- France has banned mobile phones in all primary and middle schools.
- The United States has introduced “No Phone Zones” in offices, campuses, and restaurants to encourage real-life social interaction.
- Saudi Arabia and Turkey have incorporated Digital Health Education into school curricula to teach children about responsible mobile use.
In Pakistan, however, the problem is growing unchecked. Parents often hand mobile phones to children to keep them quiet unaware that they are fueling a silent addiction. Students prefer screens over books, and outdoor activities are rapidly disappearing. The new generation is growing up connected to devices but disconnected from reality.
To address this alarming trend, collective action is needed from the government, educators, parents, and the community: - Introduce Digital Health Education in schools and universities.
- Set “Phone-Free Hours” at home to promote family interaction.
- Encourage reading, outdoor play, and cultural activities among children.
- Launch public awareness campaigns about the psychological risks of mobile overuse.
- Enforce child safety modes on all mobile devices sold in Pakistan.
Technology is a blessing only when it remains under human control. Once it begins to control us, it becomes a curse. Islam teaches us balance and moderation in every aspect of life even in the use of blessings. Using anything within limits benefits humanity, but excess leads to harm.
If we continue without restraint, the coming generations will live in a digital bubble a society of robots with no emotions, only notifications.
Now is the time to save our youth from becoming victims of mobile addiction and to guide them toward a balanced, responsible, and meaningful use of technology one where the phone connects us to people, not separates us from them.
