Lost in the Digital Age: How Electronics at Time Disconnect Us

Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

The lack of human connection is indeed a concern. We find ourselves scanning our own groceries, a clear sign of the times. The erosion of personal interactions began with the express lanes and continued with automated garbage collection. Thankfully, my postman remains unaffected.

It’s disheartening to witness the decline of the one-on-one interactions that once defined our era. But it is what it is. Like I hear constantly, “Trust the process.” Regardless, I instill in my teenager’s life the importance of speaking to their friends versus texting. So, I asked them to please honor my one request of at least talking for 30 minutes because having three teenagers at home and no noise is deafening to my ears.

Why the concern?

• Lack of Human Connection: A growing concern, especially for baby boomers.
• Self-Scanning Groceries: Reflects the shift towards automation and reduced personal interaction.
• Express Lanes: Marked the beginning of the decline in personal interactions.
• Automated Garbage Collection: Another step in the erosion of human connections.
• Postman: One of the few remaining personal interactions that remains unaffected.

Minimal or absent human interaction:

I am one who loves to observe everything in my surroundings embracing all its beauty and other human experiences. But at times I wished I kept my eyes to myself for what I see around me brings sadness to my heart.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

It never fails. When you’re at a restaurant to share a lovely meal with friends or family, a time to converse, catch up, and enjoy one another’s company, you look around and all you see are heads bowed down, staring at cellphones. To my amazement, it’s not just the youngsters, but the adults have fallen into this new detrimental trend.

In some restaurants, they even have a mini game console for children to play with. Most children don’t want to eat because they are too engaged in it. To prevent a scene when their first attempt to remove the device fails, parents often let it be once the meal is brought to the table. Now, they eat their meal stressed that the child is not eating, creating a “who’s fault is it” scenario among themselves.

I see the gestures and looks, and I think to myself, why do they subject themselves to this agony? You either deal with it or set the ground rules to avoid these types of circumstances.

I often hear parents complain about their children becoming “walking zombies” due to excessive screen time, but nothing seems to change. So, why complain if no action is taken?

As I see it, there is a time and place for everything, and communication is key. Setting guidelines and explaining to your children the importance of having real conversations and being present in the moment is a valuable gift. It helps them understand that life doesn’t revolve around a screen and encourages meaningful interactions.

But why is this happening? I seek for answers.

1. Lack of Awareness: Some parents might not fully understand the extent of the impact screen time has on their children. They might see it as a harmless way to keep kids entertained or even educational.
2. Modeling Behavior: Children often mimic their parents’ behavior. If parents themselves are frequently on their devices, it sets a precedent.
3. Convenience: Screens can be an easy way to keep children occupied, especially for busy parents who might be juggling multiple responsibilities. This convenience can sometimes outweigh the perceived negatives.
4. Peer Pressure: Children might feel left out if they are not allowed the same screen time as their peers. This can make it difficult for parents to enforce limits without their children feeling socially isolated.
5. Lack of Alternatives: In some cases, there might not be enough engaging alternatives to screen time. Encouraging outdoor play, hobbies, and family activities can help reduce reliance on screens.

Reading through these examples, it becomes disheartening to witness the challenges we, as parents, must endure. As if our plates weren’t already full, we now have to learn to navigate the complexities of raising children in a digital age. So as usual I do my research in hopes to get some guidelines, and this is what I came across.

Maybe this Could help

• Set Clear Boundaries: Establish and enforce rules about screen time. This might include setting specific times for device use and ensuring screens are off during meals and before bedtime.
• Be a Role Model: Demonstrate balanced screen use by limiting your own screen time and engaging in other activities.
• Encourage Other Activities: Promote activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading, sports, or creative hobbies.
• Educate and Communicate: Talk to your children about the reasons for limiting screen time and involve them in creating a balanced schedule.

I found these to be the easiest guidelines to work with, but in the end, we must remember it’s all about finding a balance that works for your unique family and being consistent with the guidelines you personally set.

Good luck to all we need it.

Thanks for reading❤️❤️ always remember 👇Stay grounded, while life happens.