“Our technological powers increase, but the side effects and potential hazards also escalate.”~ Alvin Toffler

Just after dinner with the family on Friday, I noticed the huge impact technology had on our lives. I was scrolling through my phone, my husband was scrolling through his phone and our four-year old was on her tablet. Now for our four year old, she gets her tablet Friday through Sunday.  Monday through Thursday, the only time she can be on the desktop is if she is on the educational website, ABC Mouse. So, this particular Friday evening after dinner, I paused to look at my family. We were definitely caught up in this generation’s “technological advancement.” Technology as a tool has so many advantages, but with these advantages come major distractions and disadvantages. On this particular Friday night, I discovered a major distraction in technology. Sometimes I ask myself how we as humans survived before technological advancement. I mean what activities kept us occupied? For example, before we became so technologically advanced, what would we do on a Friday night? The Home Owners’ Association (HOA) we belong to is very family oriented and there are family activities scheduled in the evenings. I’m guessing if we were not on our phones and tablet, we would attend more of these activities.

Okay, I know technology is not all bad. There are a million and one advantages of growing up in a technologically advanced society. Computers and smart phones have reestablished long-lost friendships and familial ties. Cars we drive are so technologically advanced, some of them drive themselves and stop when pedestrians are jaywalking. To me, one advancement I find really scary is the humanoid robot called Sophia. Sophia made a surprise appearance at a United Nations event. If you have not seen this robot, please watch the video below. She looks human and can process and engage you in conversations. I’m just a little wary about creating robots who are almost like humans. Maybe I’ve seen too many movies of such human-like robots turning against humans and becoming nightmares rather than entertainment.  I’ll be the first to admit technology has made my life a lot easier. For example, during my early years, we didn’t have a microwave but we still heated-up our food. Albeit, the process to heat-up the food was much slower and longer. The majority of the children today may not know how to heat-up their food without a microwave.

I believe the advantages of living in a technologically  advanced world has negatively impacted us as well. We have to take the good with the bad. These days, people rarely write letters to each other, rarely call each other on the phone because of the various social media accounts which facilitate communication quicker and faster. We live in a “right now” and “gotta have it my way” era because technology subliminally teaches us faster, quicker, easier will always be better than pre-technological advancement days.  We have to start making little efforts to overcome the overwhelming powers of technology. I hope we can get better at dominating technology rather than letting technology dominate us. I think making Friday night family night/ technology free night is a great start for my family. The next time you go to a restaurant to eat with friends, family or loved ones, take a bold step leave your phone in your car if you can or in your bag. Have a phone-free meal. Share stories, share experiences, share advice, share differing view points and most of all, enjoy your time out with people you love without social media’s consistent interruption.