Consumer Comparison Culture

Click, wipe, drag, open, close, watch, pause, like, delete. We are now in the world of constant connection with digital interactions. We have to be careful because this consumption comes with a warning label.

Do you know how long you’re on your phone? How long you’re on the computer? How much of that time you are consuming? How much of that time you are producing? Do you have a preference about how much you would be okay with watching and interacting with? Do you need to limit yourself? Do you need to engage more? Why? Why not?

Have you gone a week without consuming content? We will leave that open-ended as you reflect on your actions and behaviors with technology.

Times have changed. I want you to imagine someone years ago or even decades ago that was your same age. What would they be doing with their free time? What are you doing with your free time?

The argument isn’t that technology is evil. The purpose of this article is to make you think about your time online.

If we don’t start taking on the responsibility of understanding or at least trying to perceive how technology is affecting us, we may be doomed theoretically by the digital.

We may be doomed theoretically by the digital.

Generations prior to millennials know a world without computers. Millennials know a world with computers but were warned about too much screen time and were told to go out and play in the neighborhood every once and a while and get some sun. The newest generations are experiencing an overload of information in quick snippets. Is this healthy? Are the human minds built to sustain this much stimulus? Should they be?

Are the human minds built to sustain this much stimulus?

Most of us have experienced life without a smart phone. Now kids are running around with computers in their pockets. Is it “safe”? What are the ramifications? The truth may be we don’t really know. My generation, the millennials have had some of our life as test subjects but we were still able to immerse ourselves predominantly with the real world. How has this changed?

Then there is the comparison, the comparison of you and whoever or whatever you come across. Is it necessary or healthy for us to compare ourselves to anyone and everything at such a large scale?

The argument here is for moderation.

The argument here is for moderation. How do we find a balance between technology and our love or hate for it? How do we find a middle ground where it is useful, entertaining, informative and engaging without it being overpowering, consuming, and a replacement. Just a thought on this one day, just a thought I hope you consider and contribute to below.