Connection sounds too technical a word to a mid-boomer generation member like me to describe how people relate to others. But it’s accurate.
Technical because when I looked for a suitable “connection” graphic or photo on Pixabay, the majority featured a computer, mobile phone or some other hardware.
The many dangers of screen addiction and excessive use of social media are being written about extensively on academic and non-academic platforms.
A few days ago on Science Alert, I came across this article on the possible link between rising ADHD symptoms and too much Internet.
It makes a good case for that linking, citing an increase in the number of children and adults showing the symptoms and experiencing difficulty in focusing.
Connection with others via electronic devices is not the same as a face-to-face connection.
There are many studies that show how our addiction to our mobile phones affects relationships, including this report by Digital Responsibility and this on Active Beat. The statistic in the first article that 54% of people born in the Internet age would rather text than talk to someone is frightening. It does not offer much hope for any improvement in communication skills or the ability to have a real connection with another person.
Is the lack of real connection cause or effect?
Is distraction by devices causing a breakdown in the primary modes of communication? Long-form writing, reading off hard documents and speaking – that have served humanity so well for thousands of years?
Or, are changes in society causing changes in behaviour that have the effect of changing the way we communicate and connect with others. Even those with whom we have close relationships?
Are our busy lives and endless ways to distract ourselves, making us reliant on reading short messages compiled with little grammatical finesse on screens we carry with us everywhere?
Or are the distractions of those short messages and the constant stream of social media content leaving us with no time to write more than a few words at a time or read books, magazines and newspapers?
The real answer is probably a bit of both with an added driver, the ability to shelter feelings and emotions behind the screen barrier. It is easier for some to say or write things online that they would not dream of saying directly to someone or writing in the tangible medium of print. We assume that once we have closed a screen, our words are hidden, they are not. They are out there permanently and globally.
The contradiction of that is that some people become victims of online bullying. The same technology gives the bully the power to bully and the victim the exposure to be bullied.
In the pre-Internet days, the natural interaction of children in school playgrounds was much more effective at limiting bullying than legislation and action by authorities.
Lack of connection and Mindfullness
There are signs that an increasing number of us are yearning for a way to connect with others away from the distractions of the digital age.
There are churches that are reversing the trend of declining attendance by focusing on relationships and encouraging small group conversations.
Mindfullness mentors and coaches like Tanya MacIntyre are helping people find meaning and purpose in their lives by talking, journaling and joining groups.
Music shops are doing good business because playing a musical instrument or singing provide opportunities to connect with others with similar interests.
Articles about mindful skills are popular on sites like Medium.
It seems that too many of us have forgotten the importance of building and nurturing relationships.
What do you think? leave a comment.
hands photo by niekverlaan / pixabay
cause / effect sign from archives.