Sometimes I wonder if technology is taking the place of simple social interactions and having personal conversations with family and friends. My son's friends don't come to the door to pick him up; instead they send a text from the driveway letting him know they are waiting in the driveway. I was recently out to dinner and couldn't help noticing a couple out together for what looked like a nice dinner, and both had their faces down, checking their iPhones.
We lose a lot when we strictly use technology in establishing connections with others:
- Handshake, Smile or Frown
- Expression, Volume & Tone
- Eye contact & Posture
It has been said that,
how something is expressed may carry more significance than what is said. Are we losing this with the constant use of text, email, and social media? Expression is attempted over the internet, however many times it is misconstrued or taken the wrong way, creating problems.
Every day we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors including postures, facial expression, gestures, and tone of voice. From a handshake to our hair styles, nonverbal details reveal who we are and impact how we relate to each other. I can't help but wonder about where society is headed when I see these important personal connection getting lost in the whirl wind of technology today. What has your experience been with technology and personal connections?
