Think of the last time, you were waiting somewhere for an event to happen – like boarding a plane, waiting for a subway train to arrive, or in line to buy tickets for the evening game. Almost everyone is engrossed in his or her smartphones. They are all possibly waiting for that magical message/mail that will change their lives forever. Everyone is perfectly happy in their own safety bubbles, – with a do-not-disturb sign around them, and their eyes glued and unavailable for even the slightest eye-contact ….. Which, may invoke a smile or start a discussion with a stranger. Social media has become our security blanket, as we have grown past teen hood, into adulthood. It provides a familiar environment in strange new places and surrounds us with friends and family, at the touch of a fingertip. The incessant, insuppressible need to check for new messages and reassurance that someone needs you to respond seems to overtake all rational thought process. I did say earlier, that almost all succumb to this behavior; however, there will be the enlightened few who have evolved past this point.

To some extent, I cannot blame teenagers today. They have grown-up in an environment, where living in close proximity of social media, is the norm. They do not know anything ‘different’. Our children are growing up, already slaves to technology. They are missing, most of the joys of childhood and I would hazard to add – growing up too fast.

For some of us, who were still children in the 1950’s and 1960’s – we seem to have grown-up on a different planet, the way our society has evolved on the wings of super speed technological changes. Social media clearly did not exist then, and society norms encouraged interaction and peaceful co-existence. Having fun meant playing games out in the open, reading books and meeting/talking to friends face to face. Television viewing was limited to non-existent, telephone calls were expensive and as humans, we enjoyed and flourished in each other’s company. Social media was replaced by paper media and children read books by physically turning pages with their fingers….. not swiping a screen.

I do accept that the technology advances in our current times, are tremendous and have added unbelievable value to our lives. It has changed the way we function and live our daily lives. We now live in a world where information is freely available and anyone can obtain it from the vast accesses of the internet. We have mastered technology to benefit us. Then, why should we become slaves to these same technology advances. Like any form of energy, we harness…. Whether it is the raging waters of the rapids or the blowing winds of the plains, we have to learn to harness the benefits of technology in a positive manner.

So what do young parents do today, and how can they teach their children to realize the value of technology, rather than become slaves to it. I had a colleague at work who did not have a TV at home, until his children became teenagers. Surely, he listened to the radio for local news, etc. He explained that after dinner everyone sat together and talked or read a book, or listened to music – or even played their instruments. This was 15 years ago, and I for sure would not be able to practice what he did. Nor do I endorse this approach. You need to find your sweet spot between the two extreme positions. Agree as a family on the rules as to when children will have access to their parents iPads and smartphones for play etc., – and not just as a means to appease them and keep them ‘quiet’ as you are too pre-occupied and want them out of your hair. It is a very good idea, to minimize children’s exposure to watch any form of video information, until they are at least 5 years of age. That eliminates the subconscious urge to watch video/TV….. as they have not ‘learned’ to watch it as they have grown through their tender years.

I am a realist. The evolving changes to our lives are permanent and non-reversible. Technology progress in the future will bring far more changes than we can ever imagine. Embrace the changes, but never be bound by it. Learn to harness it, not be under its control. Remember that personal relationships and face-to-face interaction is a human need and we cannot survive without it. No amount of face-time and skype video calls can replace this.

As the Vulcans say — Live long and prosper.