Image above of Penny Tremblay, Payton Sproule & Kyle Selle
I met Payton Sproule and her brother Parker at the North Bay Chamber of Commerce Evening of Excellence. We were all award nominees, sitting together at a dinner table and meeting each other for the first time. Payton asked about the number one conflict-causing problem that I see in my work. I held up my cell phone as a symbol, and we connected in that moment. We are both determined to change the way that people connect. Payton is an enthusiastic Gen Z, writer, and supporter of a deep and meaningful life. I invited her to be a guest blogger. I hope you appreciate her first gift of writing for our community. We’d love to hear from you.
Reclaiming Connection in a Digital Age
by Guest Author, Payton Sproule
At the age of 16, I had a realization that changed my life. On my birthday, I watched 16 Candles and fell in love—not just with the movie, but with the time period it captured. The 80s appealed to me for its music and style, but also for something deeper. People truly connected with one another, free from the distractions of attention-stealing smartphones.
In the past, phones were simply tools for real-time communication across distances. Today, they’ve become multifunctional devices for content creation, photography, music, gaming, calculations, and more. However, their constant presence is time-consuming and rewires our brain chemistry (Swingle, 2019), making us increasingly anti-social as we prioritize screens over human connection. This loss of socialization—a core human trait—has contributed to widespread loneliness, anxiety, and disconnection. With 3.8 billion people hooked on these devices (Statista, 2024), boredom—a crucial driver of creativity—has all but disappeared. Recognizing this dilemma, I began changing my relationship with my phone. I was determined not to waste my life on flashy, meaningless distractions. I wanted to prioritize genuine human connection, best felt face-to-face.
When it really hit me.
I truly understood this when I volunteered as a mascot in the local Christmas Parade. Wearing the thick, fluffy costume, I was forced into sensory deprivation: my vision limited to a small, meshy rectangle, my hearing muffled, and my movement restricted by the heavy mascot head. I was in costume for about an hour and a half. Despite the discomfort, I found peace in the absence of screens. Mindlessly waving to smiling children as I fought the mild hardship of being enclosed in the confines of a character, I noticed how calming it felt to simply exist in the moment.
A surprising realization…
When I removed the head, the crisp winter air kissed my face, and light flooded my eyes. My surroundings seemed more vivid, and I felt a childlike wonder as if I were seeing the world for the first time. This meditative experience reminded me of the value in stillness. By depriving myself of distractions, I rediscovered an appreciation for life and the happiness that comes from within.
Phones and social media, by design, pull us into endless scrolling, initially flooding us with dopamine, only to leave us chasing diminishing returns. As Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, explains, these platforms are optimized for profit, not societal well-being. The more time we spend on them, the higher the threshold for joy becomes. But how often can we find something truly novel and exciting when we’re glued to our screens? In my experience, happiness comes from simplicity and peace.
How do we go about reclaiming connection?
That day, I also realized how much I love connecting with people. I cherished every interaction, whether it was a quick smile from a passerby or a meaningful conversation. Phones are powerful tools, but they shouldn’t dominate our lives. Technology will never regress, and we won’t return to the 1980s world I idealize, where phones stayed on the kitchen wall, and fun was had face-to-face with friends. Instead, we must learn to embrace the benefits of technology while protecting ourselves from its addictive nature.
I once doubted whether humans could coexist healthily with modern technology, but now I believe we can—with education, self-awareness, and self-discipline. It’s going to take a long time, but I refuse to let these social media and smartphone companies profit from my attention at the expense of my well-being and my precious time. I am determined to reclaim my time and focus, investing it in experiences that bring genuine fulfillment. Whether that’s connecting with others, exploring creativity, or simply enjoying the present moment. These companies may thrive on our distractions, but with intentional effort, we can break free from their grip and live more balanced, meaningful lives.
With peace,
Payton Sproule, Guest Blogger for the Sandbox Community
