Admit it, everyone has done it in conversation, especially when the conversation has died down or an uncomfortable situation occurs. I have done it, in fact, this morning I felt the familiar buzz, looked down, disconnected with the reality before me and connected to another reality almost 400 miles away. At one time considered rude, however as the "social norm" changes this has become a part of all conversation. All of a sudden that dinner date has expanded to four occupants and that group that you go out with has doubled.
What am I talking about? Cell phones. The constant companion to most millennials and now adults. It accompanies us to our room, school, and work occupying a lot of thought as there is an endless stream of "digital noise" as millions post on social media websites across the world. Last year, the social media platform Twitter reported over 200 billion tweets and Instagram now has over 500 million active users. This in an essence has completely changed our society in a period of less than ten years suddenly changing the "social norm" and conventions of society. The integration of technology into our lives has become very real and has begun to absorb us one way or another.
As a society have we become so reliant on new technology that we have forgotten the importance of face to face interaction? Now more than ever, people prefer to keep up with a friend through social media or SMS rather than actually visiting them. Thus keeping a familiarity, but keeping distance as well. Sociologists call this new phenomenon "ambient awareness", as people share more and more of their lives, people across the world (even strangers) develop a connection without ever even meeting this person. Writers, artists, and a wide array of celebrities have millions of followers knowing only a few.
Now going into a restaurant and looking around, one can observe a family meal with everyone on their phone or a couple who looks more absorbed into social media rather than each other. In an ironic way the more we connect with the world, the less we connect with each other. It seems that somehow we are more comfortable sharing something with the rest of the world rather than each other. In the picture below, two photography artists documented where a tweet was sent and took a picture of the spot. The picture is particularly saddening, when someone comes to the realization that a loved one is dying in the hospital parking lot. They turn to social media for comfort and their revelation rather than a close friend. Is it easier to share something to the rest of the world rather than with each other? We text rather than talk. We post rather than taking family pictures.We tweet rather than becoming emotionally dependent on another. There is so much interaction with the rest of the world that we lose sight of each other.
As we distance ourselves from each other the question arises "What constitutes a conversation?" Do 100 texts a day equal a face to face conversation or is a visual interaction truly invaluable? To some it does, they feel like they are constantly there and talking to their companion throughout the day creating a special type of bond, as they are able to talk all day, every day. Something that could not feasibly happen without technology. For others, it is not the same concept creates an uneasy paranoia. "Did he/she see my text? Are they away from their phone or just ignoring me? Will they interpret my text wrong and take it the wrong way?" It could vary on the extreme, but most people fall somewhere in the middle.
For me, this new burst in technology has helped the transition to college by being able to keep up with friends and family. I regularly Snapchat, text, and occasionally Instagram post about a friend back home that I rarely see. I keep up with my parents via SMS or phone call, because a 7-hour drive for a twenty-minute conversation is just not feasible. Of course, I would rather see them face to face, but, at this point, it is just not an option. For me, social media and technology is just a way to keep in touch and try to maintain relationships while I am seven hours away. I have an ambient awareness of my hometown, school, family, and friends.
The companionship of a phone is in many ways a relieve as people feel they are never actually truly alone. As they tweet, post, or blog they feel that they a part of something larger and the world does not seem as much as a lonely place. A little 3 by 5 phone can connect anybody anywhere to another by just the click of a few buttons. It is transient of geographic location or time, but does it truly surpass the warm hug of a friend, eye contact with a person across from you, or any other physical interaction? By connecting to the rest of the world are we somehow loosing sight of our closest friends and family? Or has technology transcended the need of a face to face interaction? As technology continues its everlasting march to new innovation the question will be renewed and debated again and again, but the truth is no-one truly knows.
