I thought getting my newest smartphone would help keep me more connected. I could now keep better contact with Facebook, twitter and all my online groups but the more I got sucked in to the pinning and updating and photo sharing I realized that I was more into my phone screen and the updates on there than with the people that were sitting right in the room with me.
I didn’t completely tune out those around me when I heard a tweet from my phone but I did tend to swipe my finger across the screen to see who the email was from when I heard my email tone “It’s so fluffy” (Agnes from Despicable Me). Sure my smartphone keeps me connected to my online friends and associates but I also take time to hit the power button and play games with my boys or watch some tv with Daddy B. I do have rules for myself with my phone. There are no phone calls or messages while we are eating. Table time is for the 4 of us enjoying our meal and talking about our day. The emails and calls can wait.
Yes we can enjoy all our Facebook fans and twitter followers and the hours we (I) can spend pinning on Pinterest all from the smartphone but don’t let it take away from the connections you have or may be missing out on with those sitting beside you right now.
I’m torn and working on getting a balance of online and offline connections. I use my phone to keep me in communication with companies that I have worked hard to build connections and relationships with but can’t risk making Daddy B mad by not paying attention to him when he’s trying to talk to me while I am reading emails. I’m after the happy medium, best of both worlds.
How do you feel about the use of smartphones for social connections? Do you think they put us more in or out of touch with our relationships?
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I think they do both. It is nice to be reachable at all times. However, that can be overwhelming. My husband now has to answer calls when he is on vacation and home for the night. That’s the downfall of being so reachable.
You know, I was very impressed with the quickness of your responses on Twitter (and surprised). I try to stay on top of things. But, with student teaching and life right now, I’m always behind. I agree, you have to find a balance between the two.
yeah its tough to find the right combination. my kids are teens and its tough to get them to unplug at the table. threatening works.
For us it is no phones at the table, period. When we are having a conversation I sometimes have to say, “please put your phone down so you won’t be distracted.”
I love my smart phone but I don’t like all the talk in public. I really don’t want to hear one sided conversations while I’m shopping or eating out.
I love my smartphone. Not sure what I’d do without it but I rarely talk on it in public. Mostly I text so it doesn’t affect people nearby.
I feel both way. They are a great way to stay connected but nice to have a break away from it too. My hubby receives emails/calls around the clock and that can get a bit annoying. Especially during family time
Great post by the way!!!
I’m pretty much glued to my iPhone. Sometimes it’s for social media, sometimes it’s for texting the familly, sometimes it’s to help keep the kids entertained while waiting in line at the bank. I honestly don’t know what I did before it.
I also love my phone and am bad about checking it constantly! I know that the Hubby and I have talked about setting limits and perimeters around dinner time as the kiddos get older!
I love my smartphone. It makes it easier to keep in touch.
My phone doesn’t work at home. It’s a blessing and a curse.
Definitely both.I feels it east into a lot of family time in more situations than one!
I”m guilty of using my android for social connections. It feeds the addiction, however, I also try and keep insight the words of Alec Baldwin speaking about the Weiner scandal he said, “We tell ourselves that these devices help us communicate more effectively. What they actually do is allow us to bypass the person lying right next to us, across the room from us or at an airport heading home to us, in order to meet our immediate, even inconvenient, needs. To bypass their moods, their current view of us and their own desires, or lack thereof.” It kind of puts it all in perspective just how much our devices have taken over our “face-to-face” relationships.
I love staying connected with my cell phone. I often wonder how I did everything without one when my kids were growing up!
I would love to switch but I am neck deep with verizon.com -sigh-
I couldn’t live without my smart phone – I have a busy job that requires contact with coworkers and the phone enables me to work from home or remotely. I do have ot make an effort to put it down and away during “family” time.
So many things to keep on top of as a working mama. My iphone keeps me in the loop and sane : )
I never realized how much I was on my smartphone until during the holidays we took a technology vacation. No phones, no computers, nothing. I felt like I was in a rehab but so needed it.
great post and I’ve never heard in us cellular.
I have a Windows phone and don’t know how I ever survived without it.
I think you have to find a balance. I, personally, do not own a smartphone. I already spend too much time blogging, so I don’t want to be on the phone checking emails and blogs all the time, too. It’s definitely good for those who need it for work purposes!