I often find myself in a trance, not really remembering anything I've seen or read. It's gotten so bad that I can't even seem to finish a movie or show. Such is my dwindling attention span.
And if I've made content on my blog or Facebook, I'm constantly checking my phone to see how many comments or likes I have.
My suspicion is that many of us can relate to screen dependency. I see it all the time, in my coffee shop, or waiting in line for a buzz cut. If we feel the least bit bored, even during a face-to-face conversation, we can't help but pick up our phones and start swiping.
Social media is the source of much distraction in our lives. Whether it be a cute cat video, or some irresistible hot guy talking about his fitness routine, we are so easily pulled off course. Yet we long for connection. Social media offers us a way to feel connected to our friends even when we rarely see them.
Back in the old days before all of this, our circles were smaller, and we had tighter bonds with those physically close to us, like our neighbors, family, and church communities. But now we are saturated with information and reminders of people and places from long ago. We remain "connected" with people from high school or, in my case, with people I've never actually met. Memories pop up constantly, and we are even reminded of the birthdays of people that have died! Imagine a future Facebook where most of our "friends" aren't even alive.
Another aspect of FB that bothers me is that we only see what people want us to see. I'm certainly guilty of wanting to show off my newest discoveries and trips. We all do this. And we've been "bragging" since the dawn of civilization, but this is ramped up to the umpth degree! Much like modern reality TV, this is mostly fiction and can be a distorted and toxically positive representation of how people actually live. And consider all the expectations we feel like we have to do...
did I like her last post?
oops, did I forget to wish him a happy birthday?
am I losing touch with an old friend?
.... just writing all of this makes me anxious.
But I don't want to downplay the benefits of social media! I love learning about new plants and watching videos of fat kitties purring, especially since I don't currently have a kitty of my own. My long-distance friendships have also been sustained through social media. I feel blessed to have people who read my posts and genuinely seem to enjoy my output. It feels good to be "followed" by others. I'm like so many of my fellow Americans, I want to be a celebrity! LOL
So I don't want to disconnect... plus it just isn't realistic to suggest that we can simply unplug. Pretty much everything we do is somehow connected to the internet... it's the way we find employment, the way we buy things and the way we contact the corporations that have such a stranglehold over us.
So we must adapt to this highly addictive addition to our lives. We must evolve much like our ancestors who adapted to the telephone, radio, and television. An ever-increasing number of distractions and obligations will require us to develop major skills of self-control and discipline.-We must re-learn the ability to enjoy being alone with just our thoughts... and to be present in the real world. Nature and self-reflection, I believe, is medicine for our souls.
So there isn't anything new that I can contribute to this debate. My point is simply to present my observations and work out how I feel about this unavoidable force. Like everyone else, I'm obviously concerned about my ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Yet increasingly I find solace in the awareness that I'm just really here for the ride. I have no control over these big changes that are coming over the horizon. I'm at the mercy of this unpredictable yet extremely wonder-filled planet. Acceptance of this "lack of control" has helped me through a lot of anxiety. Though I'm not immune to feelings of hopelessness, I know that whatever happens, there is beauty in the ever-changing nature of our world.
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