Technology has a huge impact on our lives on daily basis. It has helped companies save billions of dollars, has increased productivity level and made us easy to connect with each other on the touch of a few buttons. We have better cures for illness. However, where technology has a lot of positive effects, it has also made us isolated from our society.
We have become cyber junkies by glancing on our screens every time our phone vibrates. Our face to face social skills are limited by technology face time. We are losing the ability to cue emotional intelligence, body language, and social boundaries. As a society, we are gaining weights and moving less. We eat our dinners in front of the television or watching shows on the internet. Drug and alcohol abuse is the new ‘cool’. Seeing images on internet and TV has parted us away from our reality of body image and behavior. As a nation, we are addicted to cell phones, have a constant distraction, and a lack of empathy. We are constantly on phone connected to the online world that has increased peer pressure and led to more stress in our lives.
I believe we need to take a few measures in order to lessen the negative impact of technology on our lives. Everything has a positive and negative side, at the end of the day, it is up to us how we use or abuse the system. First, we need to emphasize the importance of social skills in our teenagers and young adults. Create an environment of more family interactions, a board game, eating together or playing a sport as a family. Teenagers who have a better relationship with family, friends, and grandparents are better at interpersonal skills. Have in-depth and intellectual conversations with your teenagers. When a family conflict arises, rather than shouting, teach them the value of table talk to share their thoughts clearly, and resolve the issues fairly. It will help them to see the value of empathy by putting themselves in other people’s shoe. This will teach them to stand for what is right, take responsibility for their actions and bring a purpose in their life. In the end, better communication skills, work ethics, commitment and a drive to pursue a goal in their life will develop them both personally and professionally, not staying online 24/7.
Amna Khaliq is a Business Management Instructor at Northern Lights College. The views expressed are her own. She believes that kindness, smiles, love, and yawning is contagious. In her spare time, she likes traveling, cooking, reading and working out.
