Recently, I went to the Role Model concert, and it was great. The concert was actually amazing, and I had such a great time. But while I was there, I noticed something interesting at the concert. I was standing somewhat in the middle so I could see the people in front of me and the people behind me pretty well.

When Role Model first came on, everyone had their phones out, which honestly is normal for when the artist comes out. I’d imagine these people probably just wanted a video to put on their Snap Story of Tucker coming out, but what really caught my eye was how these same people still had their phones out 15 minutes later.

Another 15 minutes go by, and I still see this wave of phones up in the air. They’re just filming the whole show, and I feel like we’ve normalized capturing every moment. It never fully dawned on me how odd this is until that night, but for some reason, it kind of bothers me.

I think people who capture every moment are scared about forgetting a memory. We’re afraid of a magical moment in our lives happening and not having some part of it in a permanent form, whether it is a photo or video. Our heads are no longer enough. Whether this is true or not, I also think there is a major aspect of this that comes from social media, wanting to post every moment.

I think the obsession with getting photos and videos of everything really doesn’t allow you to enjoy a moment. And I don’t care if that sounds cliché; it’s true. When I’ve just kept my phone down and taken the pressure off myself, I said, “This is a memory I’m just going to keep for myself. I’m just going to live in the moment and not stress out about whether or not I’m going to remember this moment perfectly. I’m just going to exist.” I feel like I end up enjoying myself way more, and I have so much fun.

I think taking photos and videos of everything can really ruin a moment. So, maybe the next time you’re at a concert, you should try pulling your phone out the least amount possible. In my own life, I feel that some of the best memories I have are not the ones I have recorded but the ones I was completely present for.