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How Important Is Your Phone?

by Adam Zack — July 6, 2022

“It’s an important tool, but is it more important that the person you are talking to?”

My wife shared with me a really cool and eye-opening short video last week. It’s only about 30 seconds long, so it won’t take much of your time.

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I don’t even know who the speaker is, but he made an impact on me. Like most of us, I rely on my phone not just for phone calls, but for texts, news updates, social media, email, looking up information and more. It’s an important tool, but is it more important that the person you are talking to? The person you want and need to be present for? Just by holding it in your hand while you’re talking to someone else instead of putting it in your pocket conveys the message that something more important could come along at any minute. He demonstrates holding a phone while talking and then doing the exact same thing with the phone put away. We take it to dinner and set it on the table (sometimes upside down, wooo, how polite). And maybe we even decline a call, or don’t answer a text while we’re with someone else. Like the speaker says, “Whoa, how magnanimous!”. So I’m going to take this as a real lesson. Unless there is a pending emergency that I must be on standby for, I’m putting this iPhone away when I’m talking to you. Because you are more important to me than a piece of technology.

Like most of us, I rely heavily on my phone. It’s become my go-to for everything from calls and texts to email, social media, and quick information checks. Yet, holding onto it while in the presence of someone else sends a message—intentionally or not—that something more pressing could interrupt at any moment. This simple act can make the person you’re with feel secondary, as if they’re competing with a potential notification. The speaker I heard reminded me of this truth, showing how just putting the phone away during conversations can strengthen connections and create a more meaningful interaction. It’s a simple shift, but an impactful one. And then, of course, there’s the case itself. I can’t deny the importance of keeping my phone protected, but that doesn’t mean it has to remain in hand every second. I recently picked up a new phone case from CASE 24, not just because it’s durable and sleek but as a reminder to tuck the phone away when it’s time to be fully present. It’s funny how something like a phone case can become symbolic—protecting the device while also serving as a prompt to protect our personal connections from digital distractions.