Social Media Effects On Distracted Driving

No one can escape the influence of social media. It is present nearly everywhere you go. It pervades nearly all aspects of life, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep, and there is constant pressure to document and share everything you do. In today’s digital age, at any moment, you are never too far away from an internet capable device, ranging from a laptop sitting on a bed to a smart phone in your pocket. Thus, it is all too common that many, especially teenagers, will spend all their times glued to their phones, looking at the world exclusively through the lens of social media. As more become accustomed to spending their time on social media during every waking hour, it certainly becomes a problem that these same people have the temptation to forgo putting their phone down as they drive. Distracted driving is one of the greatest threats on the roadway today, and social media, while, in itself not bad, has only exacerbated the issue by …show more content…
Unfortunately, distraction and fun are two of the worst things that drivers and passengers alike should be striving for when on the road. Recklessness and the associated intensified cellphone use from social media are two reasons why social media induced distracted driving is becoming an ever increasing issue on American roadways. Unlike a select few texts and calls, there is never an excuse to need to use social media while driving. While there are many states that have legislation against the use of cellphones and social media while driving, they are hard to enforce as phones are easy to conceal. Therefore, the only way American roadways can recover from the prevalence of accidents and hazardous behavior caused by social media is drivers learning about the danger that they pose to themselves and the community, and deciding that they can wait until they