The beauty of a cell phone is its indescribable power. Its power to keep you connected with people wherever and whenever. Its power to provide you with updated information in seconds. Its power to be there for you when you want to avoid those awkward interactions with the strangers around you.

But with its beauty comes an ugly side. Cell phones have become definite sources of distractions. Your cell phone is no longer used for just making calls; it is your source for texts, photos, social networks, music, voice recordings, Internet…the list is endless. And all these distractions hinder us from paying attention to the important things going on around us.

While technology has changed the world, every innovation comes with negative effects. According to The Huffington Post, using a cell phone to text or call while driving makes getting into a car crash four times more likely to happen. Car crashes are already the leading causes of deaths for teenagers, and cell phones are continuing to make matters worse. Not only can a phone distract you from the road, but it can also hinder a student from studying properly or paying attention in class.

The hours spent surfing the web or watching YouTube videos can be used doing more beneficial activities or interacting with others on a personal level, not just through a screen. Taking the time to disconnect can help relieve stress and clear one’s mind from the chaotic digital world. We sometimes feel the need to stay up to date on every little thing going on around us, but taking some time off from doing that can help one focus on the more important things, such as driving to a destination safely, finishing up assignments or those college apps and taking time to socialize face to face.

Even with all of its greatness, sometimes a cell phone’s best feature is its OFF button.