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Modern luxuries have become an inseparable part of our life, yet many are thinking retrospectively about their relations with luxurious objects such as their cell phones to figure out if the luxuries have truly brought them with convenience or have prevented them from growing into an independent individual. While either outcome is possible, I believe the impact of modern luxury on individuals is more contingent on the person himself – whether he is a strong person to start with and how does he use the objects.

As we observe in everyday life, we may see some individuals who are overly obsessed with modern luxurious devices, and it seems that the use of such devices has deprived them of their ability to live and think independently. One needs to look no further than one of the devices that accompany most people’s everyday life, cell phones, for example. Many of the young generations have developed an unhealthy and dependent relationship with their cell phones. On daily basis, we see people walking on the street with their attention focused not on their surroundings but on their phone screens. Moreover, many of us have lost the ability to think critically and independently over the current societal issue and reply on mobile apps such as Facebook and Twitter to make up their minds. For instance, those who insisted that Covid vaccines are poisoned have refused to do independent research about the benefits of the vaccination but simple-mindedly listened to Trump and other rumor-makers.

As much as modern luxuries have seemed to weaken us, we cannot deny that they have brought much convenience to our life. Take the same luxury, cell phones, as an example. The impact of cell phones is not all negative for every citizen of modern society. The truth is cell phones have made the life many of us much more convenient and productive. For example, prior to the invention of cell phones, communication is only possible via letters or word of mouth, which have made long distanced communication very troublesome. With the assistance of cell phones, bossiness partners, mentors, and students, and friends and families who live far apart can easily connect to each other through phone calls or video chat, which has made business, education, and personal communication much easier.

Paradoxes of this nature exist everywhere in our life with all kinds of products of contemporary life. As much as modern luxuries have brought us convenience and productivity, convenience comes with a risk of causing us to be overly independent with the luxuries and eventually lose our independence. Then the question, are a modern luxury the reason that prevents some of us to be independent and strong? I believe it is not, for being a strong and independent person requires strong self-motivation and self-discipline, and those with strong self-motivation will not let any objects take control of their life. Those who are less independent, on the other hand, will be more easily influenced by the handiness of modern luxuries, and more likely in a negative way.

In sum, modern luxury is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has brought with us great convenience and comfort, which increases our productivity in work and personal life. On the other hand, its handiness has triggered the obsession over it in many people. Whether modern luxury will be a handy tool or dangerous trigger for any individual depends on his or her character. Those who are strong and independent tend to use the tools well, whereas those who are less independent may be negatively influenced.