The New Digital Divide: Is It Time To Update Your Status For Good?
There’s no doubt that we are in a new digital age, from the Internet, to computers, to the Blackberry, times have changed tremendously in regards to how far we’ve come with electronics and technology, but is it possible for us to take things a little too far and get tangled up in this World Wide Web?
When people first spoke of the digital divide years ago, it referred to the gap that existed between people who had access to digital technology and computers and those who had little to no access, but now, when I think of the digital divide, I think of how the majority of communication happens through the computer or texting, I think of how asking “are you on Facebook?” is as common as asking someone’s name or where they work.
I think of lost friendships through misinterpreted emails and because the tone of a text message was misconstrued. I think of questioning your man’s intentions and what he’s doing on social networking sites. I think of face-to-face interaction being diminished.
I’ve heard people say “the Internet makes the world smaller” but I’m not even sure if I want the world to be smaller, I kinda like my world big and unexplored just the way it is.
I do enjoy technology, I just feel that it can get out of hand at times and in the end we need to ask ourselves are we cultivating our relationships in real life? Are we wasting time online? I know myself, as soon as I turn on my computer, I can become so sidetracked. I’ll go online just to check business related emails and before I know it I’m shopping, checking out 30 different blogs, chatting online and then three hours are gone down the drain. I’ve even gotten to the point where I had to tell myself, once I shut the computer down, I can’t turn it back on until tomorrow, and I know I’m not alone. It makes me lazy, makes my eyes hurt and makes me feel at times that I need to get back to what’s important to me.
I think we underestimate how easy it truly is to become addicted to things. The word addiction doesn’t just refer to drugs and alcohol anymore, there is a new emergence of studies showing people who are addicted to the Internet. Count how many times a day you look at your phone, Blackberry, social network accounts and you might realize you are doing it a bit much. There is absolutely nothing wrong with not being in touch with people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, your mind can feel a bit overwhelmed at times if you don’t give it a break.
I think back to a time when none of these means of communication existed and I wonder if relationships were more meaningful. I miss the times of being out at dinner with friends and everyone is talking and engaged and not answering emails from the table. I miss going to the movies and not having to see the person next to me with their phone open while they send a three-page text message. This might sound unrealistic, but I even miss walking down the street without people bumping into me because they are so engrossed in their phones.
It’s time to pick up that book we’ve been meaning to read for the past four months, get our friend’s addresses and send actual birthday cards in the mail and not just an E-Card or Evite. Listen to the radio, go for walks and let our brains think about things outside of seeing what everyone is saying on Twitter, call our friends instead of texting them.
How would you cope if your computer and phone were taken away? I challenge you (and myself) to log off, shut down, clear your mental browser and see how you feel after taking your mini tech vacation.
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Wonderful insights. Thanks for sharing.
This is so true. Social networking can become very addicting and life online can also cause life offline a bit of drama. *sigh* We’ll see when I can detox and shut it down for a long period of time.
I am SO happy this article was written. My friends and I just had a conversation about this, well more like a debate the other day and some of us were really wondering what the long term effects will be of all this technology usage.
It is important to give yourself breaks and not be connected all day everyday…it does feel good to be outta touch sometimes.
Thank you, I will be forwarding this to all of them;)
lol thats funny, its interesting how technology has evolved how it plays such an important role in our life then before. I remember how my mom use to be mad at me and my sister for being on the phone alll the time in high school, taking the phone away for like a week lol. As with blackberries, facebook, myspace, twitter or whatver its the same as video games. Children are not going outside and playing and enjoying their youth. I dont know the last time ive seen a child riding their bicycle outside. The lack of communcation is eventually going to have our children socially handicap.
nice article GANEKA!
The flip side to this is that technology has enabled communities and relationships and support networks that would not otherwise be possible. I’m thinking of disabled internet users and queer communities in particular.
Whether a relationship is “meaningful” depends entirely on how you perceive it. My online friends are my peoples, my blogfam. They’re every bit as real and supportive as my offline friends, and I feel a sense of belonging that I don’t even get with my family. (Yeah, the fact that we’ve met in person and have a frigging blast makes it extra real.)
So while technology can be addictive, technology-enabled moments should not be dismissed as any less real.
I concur Tiffany :)! Great article, Ganeka!
I live in Africa and the advent of technology has been relatively slow but certainly steady enough to notice all the things mentioned in this article. I started to get slightly addicted to facebook and the blogging, and the clothes and shoes (that i can’t even buy because they don’t ship to this little hole in the world) and eventually even I started to forget that not only was i forgetting my books, my music, my friends and family but i began to be oblivous to the reality of what is happening in our world today. Its very easy to get lost in a world where you can be anything and anyone you want to be. Technology is a wonderful resource that should be exploited to its fullest, however, i’ve also decided that in life MODERATION is key.
On that note, I’m signing off. Off to enjoy the beautifully warm weather, watch the sun set, listen to some really good music and reflect on my day and on my life over a VERY big glass of wine! :)
CHEERS!
You are so right. It’s become so addictive, that my cell phone is always attached at the hip and my earpiece glued to my ears, like I’m a private agent or something. We have become so impersonal. Where I used to receive actual phone calls and cards on my birthday, I now get a simple text message “Happy B-day Girl!” Not from everyone, of course, since mom still hasn’t mastered the text message yet. ((lol)) But seriously, I’m going to take you up on the challenge Ganeka and spend my time more wisely…
Ganecka,
Great article. Its so very true. I must admit i am all caught up in my tech use. I think we’ve forgotten how to function with out it. Scary
Very insightful…
Great article, but I’m not ready to fully let go. I need to stay connected like a crackhead needs the pipe!
Ganeka you have said all that I have been thinking since the year 2000!
Perfect!
Guilty! The sad thing is that as soon as I get home after a long day’s work, I turn on my computer and not necessarily to communicate. I use it mainly as a source of information – too much information. I use the computer to shop, read the news, look thinks up, watch TV, and more. I shudder to think how many hours I’ve whiled away in front of it. Sometimes while depriving myself of much needed sleep! And yet, I’m not sure how to stop. Maybe allocating a set (and limited) amount of time each day to Internet use is a good start. It’s clear though that the opportunity cost of too much time online is quality time offline with friends, family, and self. Thanks for getting me thinking….
This is exactly why I do not turn my computer on when I get home and will not pay for home internet because i get it for free at work (lol). This allows me to stay in touch by phone instead of emails. I will not let the internet take over my life. Good article Ganeeka.
Sadly the internet has taken over my life. I spend way too much browsing the web on blogs, facebook, and gossip sites. I’m too involved in celebrities lives. I need a break! With that being said, once I finish typing up my papers for class I’m doing a fast from the WWW. Let’s see how long I can go w/o it.
Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate the comments:)
So true..I have yet to embrace facebook, myspace or whatever else is out there.
Good Article. It’s funny how I can “read between the lines” when I receive texts from my sister or bf or any one of my good friends. But I think it’s very hard to stray away from. And scary how so addictive and nonchalantly everyone does it! But I’ll try the challenge. Please look at this quick video…quite hillarious, but it relates to this subject and makes you hopefully appreciate the little things more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus
This is so true. I am a disowner of TV since the late 80s. I had to actually adapt on tech for networking, occupational reasons due to my artistic talents. What ever happened to walks in the park with your companion, holding hands…the flowers instead of html images etc..etc.
I went to visit an old friend at his job. As we are on our way back, on the bus there was extraordinary person with a beautiful smile my old friend introduces me to…no media super highway- just a natural occuring presence that felt pleasant & fruitfull.
The irony is that you posted this in a blog rather than a newspaper ;)