The more social media we have,
the more we think we’re connecting,
yet we are really disconnecting from each other.
– JR
Are we connecting with social media? I don’t know the answer to that question. But I think it’s a discussion that we should be having. On the one hand, we’re connecting with more and more people across the globe. This wasn’t something that was even possible 20 years ago. Which means a big fat yes when we ask are we connecting with social media? But there is the other side of the issue, in that we have our phones out so much….are we connecting with the people sitting next to us or only to the people on the opposite side of the world? Do you discount your family if you’re paying more attention to your phone at dinner time? I’d love to know what you think about this.
I’m guilty as charged as spending too much time on my phone. I try to keep it to minimum when I’m with my daughter though.
I work for a wireless company and sometimes I feel so guilty when I see a bunch of teenagers in a group and all of them are on their phone and not talking to each other…..and then you’ll find me around the corner with my head in my phone.
I just got a smartphone recently. Perhaps it will cut me off from the rest of society, once I eventually work out how to use the thing. 🙂
I think it takes a lot of mindfulness not to use social media too much. I had to make rules for myself and our family like, never use the phone at the dinner table (it’s not even allowed on the table in our house), etc. I also turn off any sounds when I meet with friends. We met with some friends yesterday and one of them was constantly on his phone looking at every notification, and it was really distracting and made me feel like I was an afterthought.
On the other hand, I have met some wonderful people via social media, and I consider them friends. I guess the key is to find that never truly attainable balance…
Andrea
Andrea’s Wellness Notes
Rules in families are good. When I was growing up, we couldn’t watch TV while at the dinner table….we had to talk to each other. I will admit my husband and I take the phones out while we’re out at dinner with each other, but only to find answers to questions that might come up during our conversations, that’s one of the things I love about having a smartphone.