Connecting With Others: A Challenge For New Forms Of Communication
In terms of communication, technology is one of the best representatives of the duality of our actions. On the one hand, it gives us experiences, while on the other hand, it brings with it a real danger of preventing us from experiencing. It is therefore easier than ever to integrate with others, and at the same time difficult.
For example, social networks allow us to bring things closer to us. We can connect with people who are thousands of miles away from us. In addition, we can see the places they visit, what they like, what hobbies they have, and what their social circles are like.
The danger of this arises when what works behind the screen becomes an alternative to the traditional form of communication. Joining others is much more than just “liking” a publication. Face-to-face conversation means a large number of different nuances that aren’t in WhatsApp conversations. Photographs rarely have the power to tell the whole reality, or at least one whole one that we could get in person.
We run the risk of becoming addicted to social networks, and forgetting how to connect with people through gazes and gestures. We also interpret nonverbal language from images. Sometimes these images depict us so that we don’t show the world what we really feel. The key is to get the most out of the new technology, but we must not rely on them completely.
Uniting others with need or desire?
We define our lives by uploading our daily lives to social networks. An experience is not always “real” unless it is published on social media. It’s not enough to just live and enjoy the events. We need others to know about them and take part in them on social media.
A study by the universities of Wisconsin, Haverford, Northwestern, and Toronto found that couples who posted more on social networks were the most unhappy.
In general, it can be said that people who need external recognition (likes and visits to profiles, etc.) are also the poorest inside. A person with good self-esteem does not need others to give their approval to these images or travels, partners, or friends. They use social media every now and then, but never because of need.
Let’s not forget that talking or talking involves more than just keeping our eyes on the screen or writing messages. And looking at photos is not about seeing real landscapes. “Likes” doesn’t mean expressing an opinion, it simply means, “I’m here, and I’m following you.”
Our memory camera is much better than our phone camera
The real core of our daily lives is stored in our memory, and it’s not good to diminish its value with a smartphone camera. A single moment can hide within it an emotional moment that we can lose if the only way we can see it is through the phone’s camera.
We should forget our phone for a moment (nothing awful happens if we ever leave it at home). Let’s go for coffee, social events, travel and receive all the moments, let’s smile, hold others by the hand, and live in reality.
And we are not the only ones who think so. It seems that many people have chosen their side in this battle between digital communication and physical communication. The ability to be with others physically is basically a miracle. If we don’t want to lose touch with people, we have no choice but to go to places where most of them are already – in the digital world.
Real lives are hidden behind social media. Behind every profile is real life. We are each much more than just a picture or a contact. Each person has their own world, which is reflected little in their social network. That is , reuniting with others is much more than being “online”. Let’s leave our screen behind so we can see the reality that awaits us.
