A smartphone without social media

Editor’s note: We’re looking for a variety of young voices to contribute to “Hits Different.” If you’d like to write a commentary, send it to Managing Editor Zachary-Taylor Wright at [email protected].

How would your life change if you didn’t have a smartphone? The devices increasingly have become a cornerstone of society. They’ve altered how we communicate, build friendships and obtain information.

According to a study by global-tech company Asurion, Americans check their phones 96 times a day, which is once every 10 minutes. However, until I was in seventh grade, I checked my phone zero times a day. I simply did not have one to check.