Every day, we get lost in a myriad of activities – housekeeping, helping the kids’ with their assignment, gossiping, texting, tweeting, meetings, chatting. – trying to make our lives and the lives of our loved ones better, that we forget to take a break, breathe and smile.
The journey of life can be very challenging sometimes; it’s in hurdles and phases. However, being alive is still a gift whichever way we choose to look at it. Although we have social media where we can vent and laugh, human beings are gradually losing the touch of a typical face-to-face human interaction.
Now, the question is: is technology gradually destroying human interaction and causing a detachment? Social media was supposed to make humans stay connected from different parts of the world, however, in reality, it is the complete opposite. Not only has social media and technology become a tool for people to live a pretend life, but it is also causing meaninglessness in human interaction. It is gradually disconnecting us from the world. We have so much technology around us, yet, we feel so alone and isolated. Friends no longer spend time with each other, family times are no longer sacred, instead, they choose to call, chat and text. Well, your argument may be ‘it is simpler’. Pause, think about it; one hundred texts cannot equal a hug, one thousand smileys cannot equal a physical touch or a peck and one million hours of endless chatting cannot make up for a physical time we spend talking, holding hands and crying in each other’s arms.
Face to face interaction has been proven to comfort humans and provide a sense of well-being. There is something intangible and invaluable about talking to a human face to face. Even when we do video calls, although we can see the person, it still feels like the person is miles away.
Take a second and ask yourself this question: although you have nine hundred thousand friends/followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, can you keep up with all of them? Do they know you beyond what is written on your profile? Do you know their names?
A connection is about the quality and not the quantity of interactions. This is what human interaction gives that the digital platforms cannot. While technology has provided us with the opportunity to connect with people all over the world like never before and maintain long-distance relationships, it still doesn’t negate the fact that we are spreading ourselves too thin.
So, whenever you get the opportunity to spend time with your loved ones, do so with a smile as big as a crescent; this is what counts!
Written By: Pascaline Opeodu
Yes it does.