TMC (Too Much Connection)

The internet has changed everything. We are now connected at a level never seen before in human history. We almost don’t get to see the face of the modern teenager anymore because there is always some kind of screen in front it…thankfully though their smartphones have front-facing cameras so we can see their face on their next status update that includes a picture. Our world truly changed.

I love technology. I love gadgets. But I see inherent dangers trending us toward instability and recurring problems if we don’t take time to count the cost. Here are a couple of concerns I have…

1.       Little things are now big deals.

Before when you broke your nail or got a flat tire you may have shared that with your closest friend or family members. But now the rules have changed. Now an incident like a flat tire is broadcast via the internet through your smartphone complete with pictures to all your Facebook and Twitter connections. And then multiple posts will follow that up from your friends giving you the standard, “LOL!” or a recounting of their own story of their flat tire episode (with potential links to pictures of their incident).

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it is just doing something to us. Something not good, I believe. We don’t need help developing our own narcissism. This constant connection to our own personal audience gives us a Hollywood actor sensation. We are always on the stage performing for our beloved fans. That is not how life was meant to be lived.

2.       We turn to others before we do God.

Back in the day when you had a bad day and were really feeling blue, you might actually spend some time in prayer about it. But who has time for something like that now? I have got to post this on Facebook and then check incessantly for updates to my post. If enough comments have been made on my post then I will be freed to feel better. Or it may be affirmed that I am really a loser and no one truly cares about my having done poorly on my college exam.

The problem with the current connection we all have is that it is our new idol in many ways. It feeds us emotionally. We allow it to help us in ways that we shouldn’t.

I am all for connection. I am very connected myself. But the endless texting, the constant Facebook status updates, the Tweets…it can become so maddening.

Some who read this are not going to have any idea about what I am talking about. They glibly live their lives free of the current connections most of us face. They actually navigate their days without letting anyone else know what they had for supper or what they watched on TV that was so darn funny.

I can’t imagine how sad they must feel because they don’t have a chorus of people comforting them because they didn’t post about their bad day. Nope. They just have the Lord. How sad for them.