Is texting destroying our ability to truly connect with each other? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately, as it seems like it’s becoming the number one way for people to communicate and that categorically frustrates me. Why? Because it feels as if the world is ultimately moving away from having any real interpersonal connections with each other.
It is said that this next generation of kids growing up right now are primarily going to use texting as their main mode of communication, which pains me, especially because I’m hearing more and more stories about parents these days who have to resort to texting their children just to talk to them, even when they are in the same room together!
I find this so sad, because using texting for this reason isn’t personal at all. In fact, it is extremely impersonal and hard to even know how a person is actually feeling through the words of their text.
I’ve often received text messages where I’ve struggled to know whether the context was out of anger, joy, despair, etc. But maybe that’s precisely why people are resorting to texting so much, as they don’t want others to know how they’re truly feeling with anything.
And could this be why the rate of depression is skyrocketing in our world? Could the more we text, instead of verbally communicate, lead to greater feelings of loneliness within? Weren’t we all brought here to form closer bonds? How can that even happen through texting? I honestly don’t think it can and I must say this trend is probably only going to grow even more prevalent the more our technology advances.
Nevertheless, my number one pet peeve right now with texting is when someone sends me a text to ask how I’m doing, because if I pick up the phone to answer their question, I tend to only get their voicemail, which always makes me feel so unimportant and that I don’t matter, hence the source of some of my own depression.
When I’ve occasionally asked people why they don’t answer their phones and text instead, the answer is always the same, they’re too busy. But if that’s true, what the heck did we all do several decades ago when cell phones didn’t exist? Are we that much busier these days? I sincerely doubt it and believe this is probably becoming one of those excuses many make for themselves to avoid having any long, drawn-out conversations that may take up too much of their time for other things that are more important to them. So not only is texting advancing more impersonal connections, it’s also increasing our selfishness.
I must admit though, I need to also look in the mirror, because I have fallen into this downward trend of communication at times myself. My partner has called me out on it when we’re spending time together and so has several of my friends.
So, for as much as this is a trait I’m seeing in the world I don’t like, it’s really just a reflection of something I don’t like in myself that I’ve fallen into a little bit too much as of late. Thus, I have some work cut out for me, because I don’t want to become that person who relies on texting rather than verbally communicating. And I don’t want to keep making excuses by using texting as another form of escape.
I also don’t want to become one of those people who constantly text others while out at a restaurant, or at the movies, or at any other type of public venue for that matter. Instead, I want to be more mindful of those I’m with, and even those I’m around I may not know yet, because I never know when God may want to bring someone into my life, who may not approach me because I’m far too immersed in texting someone else.
Regardless, I do believe texting is destroying our ability to truly connect with each other and I’ve definitely been guilty of furthering this negative trend at times. That’s why I’m making a personal pledge here to work on this and asking each of you to call me out on this if you ever see me doing it.
And in return, I only ask that if you want to reach out and connect with me in the future, please do call me, as that will mean more to my heart and soul than receiving a bunch of bits and bytes from you in the form of digital letters and emoji’s…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
