shannon scott

Behind a Screen

Behind a screen... Everything is easier from behind a screen, it's easier to hide, to ignore, to hurl abuse at people, virtual strangers. It's easier to speak out, because at the end of it? It's all from behind a screen. No one knows you, no one cares to know you. Why go out into the world and meet people when you can meet people over the internet, right? You don't even have to leave the comfort of your home. The world has become far too digital, I'm not even two decades old, but the younger generations make me feel older. I remember going out with my friends and playing hopscotch, or making mud pies, or climbing trees, doing kid stuff, you know? All the children of today know are computer screens and iPhones. The only thing they worry about is how many likes and followers they have on Instagram, or who's prettier. They don't understand the word socialise, they text back and forth without even really knowing who they're speaking to. After all, there's more to a person than just a face and name, right? The world is a lot more dangerous than people think, however I'm starting to wonder, maybe the digital world is far more dangerous, physically and mentally, especially to children. I have a 13-year-old niece, and to be honest I've never been more disappointed in technology. Because of technology she has been through far too much. Bullying is bad and hurtful. When I was younger I was bullied greatly, but I found comfort in my home, where the walls seemed like an impenetrable fortress in which no one could hurt me. My niece doesn't have that, she comes home to a place that is supposed to be her safe haven, and is still verbally abused by people over the internet and social media. Because just as it's perhaps safer behind a screen, it's also far more dangerous...