Beware, The Traps of Digital Technology
Do you ever feel like digital technology is running your life or the life of someone you love? Want to make some changes or help someone else who needs to make changes in this area? Read on! I've got a practical challenge for you towards the end of this blog post!
I don't know about you, but I'm old enough to remember a time before smartphones (actually, even before the internet). So, believe me when I say I don't take my five-year-old Moto Z4 for granted. The more I think about it, the more I realize what a magic wand of digital power I've got in my possession.
With our phones, we have the world at our fingertips. Literally. But the fact that we have instant and effortless access this way to an endless sea of information can, at times, make us feel like we’re missing out if we aren’t constantly browsing and scrolling.
By now, we know this is a shared experience. Tech addiction is a real phenomenon, and it's not just affecting the youth anymore.
Go to pretty much any public area where, not too many years ago, people used to talk to one another: restaurants, office break rooms, college cafeterias, airport lounges, hospital waiting rooms… Take one look around and pay attention to how groups of friends, dating couples, and even entire families are glued to their phones instead of engaging with one another.
It has become so normal we hardly notice it anymore.
Yes, we're connected across the miles, but as for the people who should be our priority—the ones we relate to in the real world; in our neighborhoods and workplaces, not to mention our own homes—we're more disconnected than ever.
Here's another reason tech addiction is a big deal: experts, not surprisingly, link excessive screen time usage to depression, anxiety, low self-worth, vision problems, impaired socializing skills, weakened emotional judgment, and numerous other mental and physical ailments.*
Research also shows that the more time we spend on our devices, the more our brains crave additional stimuli. This is causing the human attention span to continue to shrink; supposedly, it’s now shorter than that of a goldfish!* (Don't ask me how they measure these things!)
So, where does this leave you and me, as Christians?
As followers of Jesus, we need to watch out for socially acceptable addictions. Feeling compelled to check our phone every few minutes may not seem like a big deal when considering other compulsions people struggle with. But anything that controls us, other than the Holy Spirit, has the power to bring us into slavery.
And for Christians, living in any kind of bondage is a contradiction in terms.
If I regularly dive into TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Netflix, or video games to "forget about my problems," I'm missing the entire purpose for which God is allowing me to experience my negative emotions: sadness, worry, anger, fear, guilt, and so on.
God intends for these emotions to draw me closer to Him, not drive me to seek comfort somewhere outside His presence. He is the spring of living water and the only One who can quench the longings of my soul!
Addiction, as we know, can take a thousand forms and facets. And it often creeps up on us almost unnoticeably. Our fallen nature has a twisted tendency to turn innocent pastime behavior into compulsive habits, which explains how digital technology can so quickly go from friend to foe.
This is why I'm such a big advocate of taking a "tech break" from time to time—that is, completely unplugging for a few days or even a few weeks. I believe it can help us better control our use of screens.
"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable," writes Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12. He goes on to say that he "will not be mastered by anything" (same verse).
Paul's point is that even if God doesn't prohibit something, it's still a good idea to ask ourselves whether the activity may slow us down spiritually.
If we can't drive, walk, or hike without music or some kind of noise playing in the background, or if we grab our phone at every idle moment to check messages or to post about our day, maybe we should pause and think about that for a minute.
Could the fact that we so strongly "need" certain stimuli indicate that they've gained too much power over us?
In light of this critical question, here's my challenge for you today. With the help of a friend to keep you accountable, won't you consider taking 30 days—or even 60 or 90—off from social media, news, email, texting, messenger, TV shows, movies; or anything else that involves using a digital device?
(If you must utilize it for your job, limit your use strictly to work-related tasks.)
Then, take the extra time you've now got on your hands and spend it studying and meditating on God's Word, enjoying an uplifting Christian book (a real, physical one), praying, reflecting, journaling, walking in nature, and listening for God's voice to your heart.
Practice acts of kindness and communicate with others in person as much as possible. Listen more than you talk and without interrupting. Maintain eye contact. Express and receive love through physical gestures like hugging and touching.
Start implementing these things and see if you don't soon begin to notice some improvements in your relationships: your relationship with the Lord as well as your relationships with people.
I've gone on many intermittent tech fasts myself over the years, and I still do from time to time. I always find them incredibly freeing. They leave me feeling refreshed, more at peace, and closer to God and the people I love.
Will you accept the challenge?
L.B.
Consider having your friends or family members join you on your tech break to help them foster a healthier relationship with digital technology. Let me know how it goes! If you’ve already tried fasting from your phone or other gadget, share your experience in the comments section below—or questions if you have them!
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*Sources:
What are the negative side effects of too much screen time?
The negative effects of screen time on adults and children
Do you have a lower attention span than a goldfish?
