The rapid technological growth of our culture has been unprecedented in the last ten years. Our phones, tablets, laptops, cars, and more, have all gotten smarter. Meanwhile, humanity has seemingly gotten dumber, in a sense. 

The average screen time in the U.S. is 7 hours and 3 minutes, which is approximately the recommended minimum amount of time to sleep per night, but 35.5% of adults report sleeping less than 7 hours. Our technology is merely somewhat of a vessel for these concerning statistics – a vessel that companies and corporations use to captivate our attention as they profit off of our distraction, and boy, are we as humans in love with distraction. In an age dominated by technology, students at Gordon College must develop a healthy relationship with their devices to foster genuine connection, spiritual growth, and faithful witness.

A large proponent of our distracted age has been social media: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, you name it. These platforms have become centers of connection, offering us the ability to communicate with individuals who may be thousands of miles away. However, the connection offered is truly hollow. Rather than real, personal connection with others, we engage in a baseless, emotionless, and often jealous system of likes, follows, comments, and clicks with one another. We spend time mindlessly sending one another posts, which the other person rarely ever actually takes the time to look at (we know because we do the same).

The breaking news and constant bombardment of different topics we see on social media has similarly been a detriment to our social skills. In the span of several posts or scrolls we can see anything from a cat falling into a trash can, a buzzer beater, a tsunami destroying a city, or the newest political leaders’ shortcomings. Do we really have the emotional elasticity to endure this, then attempt to have a long form, serious conversation with a close friend or professor? I would be hard pressed to see the fruit bore in this hyperactivity that pulls and stretches on our ability to give adequate care and thought to each area of life.

Additionally, our technology has even further propelled the individualistic spirit of our age. It is much easier to gaze downward at our phones and scroll endlessly in isolation than it is to interact with one another. Even further, it is so enticing and easy to be totally enveloped in yourself, a term that Tony Reinke, in his book 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, has named “Digital Narcissism,” defining smartphone addictions as being “the addiction of looking at ourselves” (Reinke, 110). This has directly resulted in the prioritization of the self and degradation of others, immediately noticeable within comments made about others, but even more so in the systemic pornography problem facing teenagers and young adults.

So far, this may seem like I am simply and unnecessarily bashing technology, which is not my intent. Technology has proven it can be beneficial to the world, from helping us navigate cities to planning out our days. Communication and collaboration have never been easier, and our healthcare system is so advanced with plenty of technology that helps to diagnose and treat. I appreciate how technology works to aid our lives, and I am thankful that God has worked providentially to provide us with so many advancements. 

Now, our question is not “what can technology do,” but “what should I do with it?” To answer this question we must be counter-cultural, going against the grain of tech-addiction. Instead of doom scrolling, pick up a book and start reading, training your attention span and cognitive abilities. Rather than checking your feeds first thing in the morning, perhaps read and pray through a segment of Scripture, or even just begin the morning in quiet reflection. Maybe the next time you meet with a friend or someone important in your life, put your phone away or even better, turn it off for the time being.

I love my phone – I love the benefits that make so many things in my life easier and allow me to multitask, but why don’t we be a little radical sometimes? Let us hold ourselves to a different standard than the world, honoring the Lord with how we choose to use technology.