Human Connection Over Digital Disconnection

I was met with a wall of silence when I entered the room; however, it was obvious that everyone was communicating. Heads tilted downward, fingers furiously striking keys projected on to a small screen, this group of young people was sending information both personal and impersonal into the void of the Internet. 

I tried to envision what could demand their attention. 

A funny video? A text mesage? Pictures of friends? A grade update?

What were these students thinking?

What were they feeling? 

What might be preventing them from connecting with the other human beings in the room?

Public discourse in the United States has progressively soured since the beginning of the 21st century. We project avatars of ourselves on to a screen while trying to maintain meaningful relationships with digitized versions of our friends and family. We have reached the convergence of connected disconnection. 

Our increasing tendency to favor electronic communication over face-to-face conversation has left our society with an empathy gap. Through online distraction we are less likely to be mindful of our own feelings and, as consequence, struggle to connect with the emotional state of others.  

When was the last time that you sat with another as they revealed a secret? Cried with a friend who lost somone that you didn’t know? Listened to a neighbor share their thoughts about a political candidate for whom you would never vote?

Our failure to feel what others feel, to be present moment-to-moment has led to deep disconnection. One need not directly experience what another has been through to know joy, shame, pride, sadness, or rage. When we look another in the eye and say out loud, “I hear you. I’ve been there before” we foster a sense of emotional connection. 

Would we be as willing to dislike a post, to argue for something for which we are not entitled, or to bully someone who we barely know if we knew how these actions made the other person feel? 

Do we wish discomfort or even pain on another?  

Time will tell. 

For now, I choose human connection over digital disconnection.