In today’s world, it has become completely normal to have a phone in front of us at all times, whether we’re at the dinner table or spending time with friends. While technology has made communication more convenient and quicker, it’s also weakened people’s ability to truly build connections and relationships. Truthfully, technology has destroyed personal connections.

Just two decades ago, communication required face-to-face interaction, where people could see expressions, hear tone, and be completely focused and engaged in the conversation, where they have the ability to gain a personal connection.

Today, conversations have been replaced by quickly sending off a text message and reducing real conversations to just a few letters on a screen, entirely ending the human interaction portion of a conversation.

Although we are technically connected by social media and messaging, many people still experience an overwhelming sense of loneliness and have a lack of connections to friends.

Simply seeing someone’s life updates once in a while is not a replacement for the feeling of being seen or heard that humans gain from a face-to-face interaction. As online communication begins to replace more meaningful connections, people are left feeling isolated and disconnected.

A supporting study at Oregon State University involving more than 1,500 U.S. adults ages 30 to 70 found that individuals who spent more time online were significantly more likely to report feeling lonely. Those in the higher range were twice as likely to report feeling lonely compared to those who use it less, suggesting that extensive social media use is directly linked to the feeling of loneliness.

Tech has undeniably made staying in touch easier, especially for those separated due to distance; however, convenience should not be confused with connection. As you go on in your life, try to notice when you’re on the phone more and try to make an effort in attempting to reconnect with the world around you.

Some easy ways to get off your phone include setting app limits, turning off notifications, or creating a specific time in the day thats free zone. If you want more ideas to stay screen-free here’s a list of 10 ideas.