By: Thomas Abidoye
Nigerian lawmaker, Bamidele Salam has described smartphones as “the biggest distraction on earth”.
Rep Salam stated this on Tuesday, in a Facebook post, highlighting how these devices are affecting productivity and personal well-being.
He revealed how individuals tasked with ensuring diligence were instead engrossed in apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, neglecting their responsibilities at the Lagos airport.
The Post reads, “I don’t think there is a bigger distraction on earth today than the smartphone.
“Passing through security clearance at the Lagos Airport today, I observed a lot of nonchalance as a result of fixation to smartphones by so many personnel. So many people who should be doing some diligence were busy on WhatsApp, Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram and so on.
“Fast forward to two hours later and see how guilty i am too.
“I had resolved to have a good sleep in flight on my way to Entebbe, Uganda. The air hostess came and told me there was internet on board and that was it. I just switched on my phone and began to browse, chat, watch all manner of funny but actually useless contents on reels, Tiktok etc.rather than stick to my plans to have the good rest I need.
“Without our smartphones, most of us will work better, get more rest and sleep earlier, maintain good family togetherness, study our holy scriptures, pray more and have less stress.
“The smartphone is, I repeat, the biggest distraction on earth today!”
Rep. Bamidele Salam is correct. The mobile cell phone is a major distraction in every area of our lives. Lovers don’t spend quality time together anymore because one or both are glued to their phones. Parents and children are separated even when they are in close physical proximity. But how can we change the situation without a complete ban on the use of the devices? Prof. Marshall McLuhan predicted the world becoming a global village, but he also theorized that “the media is the massage.” Isn’t he correct?