Reclaiming Governance of My Phone
April 17, 2024
Writer: Libby Zufi
Editor: Tessa Tacoma
“Your safe space is your phone.” When I first heard this statement, I thought it was ironic. My phone may be my personal device, but it felt like it controlled my every move rather than me having governance over it. Since having a phone, it's felt like a chore to constantly keep up with - respond to new messages, stay in the know with group chats, and look physically presentable to my peers. After taking a step back, I realized how little power I had compared to the rectangular device that sat in my pocket every day. It was at that moment that I began to question if my phone was truly my “safe space.” They say your phone is what you make of it, so when did it gain so much control over my life?
When I saw that my screen time was abnormally high, I knew I needed to make a change. With a free monthly trial to Canva and my unwavering love for Pinterest, I began to make graphics. At first, these graphics were not the most aesthetically pleasing visuals. After some tinkering, I learned new features to amp up my designs.
Surrounded by the stress of school and the pressure to constantly achieve full success, I truly don’t feel room for failure at Michigan. It wasn’t until my newfound hobby, that I was given the space to fail at a task, and teach myself that I am allowed to make mistakes when learning new things.
All of my life, my phone has acted as a walking expectation I will never reach. While I have the ability to control who I message, what content I surround myself with, and my viewing habits, I let it consume my everyday life. With struggles through body image and self-confidence, I continued to aimlessly scroll through my phone and compare myself to unrealistic and unattainable standards that, I now know, are unrealistic even for the people posting them.
Immersing myself in graphic design has opened my eyes to unexplored possibilities that I never knew existed. I sparked a creative flip in my brain that has given me the space to accept failure and remind myself that it is not too late to teach myself new skills and ideas and continue to discover truths about myself that I didn’t know I had. Using technology as a means of creative expression is an advancing tool, and I am choosing to embrace this and use my technology as an outlet for expression and inspiration from others.
Since picking up this hobby, I have reminded myself that I am more in control of my space than I could have imagined. I am working towards making my phone a realm for self-growth and discovery, and allowing myself to find a comfortable safe space within my technology. Finding a creative realm within my phone and social media has allowed me to find purpose and power within my devices. Our phones affect our lives more than we realize, so let's find the positive impact of phones and use them creatively to enhance our lives and the people around us.
