Skimming through Tumblr, I saw this post.
The series of illustrations depicts people surrounded by and using social media in their everyday lives looking isolated and apathetic. Some Tumblr users critiqued this series along with similar art for being short-sighted in its insistence on portraying modern technology in a negative way.
I started to think about my own relationship with technology, especially social media, and whether or not it impairs my ability to connect with others.
I’m nineteen-years-old and grew up at a time when technology has evolved faster than ever before. The bulky monitors and basic web programs that were cutting edge in the late 90’s have long since been surpassed by smartphones, smartwatches, and social media sites that are constantly being streamlined and updated.
At the same time, I have grown up hearing how technology is ruining our societal bonds, pushing us into artificial isolation and narcissism. Listening uncritically to this perspective would have had me thinking it’s only a matter of time before we become like the people from Wall-E, living in our own little hover chairs, eternally staring into our own little screens.
Still, I’ve also had positive experiences with technology that have outweighed these negative voices.
Technological advancements have always been daunting, especially now that they come so frequently. But so much is focused on possible negative repercussions that their benefits go overlooked. I have never had to choose between adopting technology and being fully present in my day-to-day life. In fact, technology has helped me to connect with others for as long as I can remember.
When my family first moved to the United States, it was incredibly lonely not to have my large extended family near by. One of the few ways to reach them was via phone. But calling Brazil was too expensive for regular calls. The alternative was to buy calling cards, which allocated a set number of minutes with a Brazilian landline for a certain price. The calls never lasted as long as advertised. I can still recall numerous conversations with grandparents that were cut off mid-sentence.
After frustrating and lonely years of this routine, my parents installed Skype on their computer. At the click of button, we were able to see the people we loved – even through grainy image quality – and it was like magic to me.
My grandparents could see my brother and I growing up. We could see the precious first moments of baby cousins, delicious foods, moves, renovation, and other things we’d missed since moving.
In my family, Skype was followed by Facebook, Whatsapp, and Instagram. Each social media platform bridged the distance between my extended family and myself. Although my parents’ views differ, I often heard adults complaining about how technology was ruining curiosity and isolating the “youth.” But I have never felt more connected to a community of friends and family that spanned the world than now.
I don’t agree with the ‘tech pessimists,’ and I don’t think their fears are groundless.
Technology is a tool, not an actor.
Its effects depend on the people using it. The world has seen many examples of social media being used as a weapon to deceive and hurt others. But, it should not deny the power of individuals who have built creative and loving communities with it. Those of us who, like me, are privileged with access to the newest and best phones, computers, and social media sites should use these powerful tools to learn, grow, and connect.
And if with all of the wealth of information before us we reject the good that technology has done (and continues to do in favor of cynicism and distrust), then we need to re-evaluate our perceptions.
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