I like to sit and think about the technological advancements in keeping people connected that occurred during my grandfather’s lifetime. 

Born in 1929, daily newspapers were already decades old, as was the telegraph, but it was the early days of radio and telephone. During his lifetime he witnessed; the rise of radio, broadcast television, cable and satellite t.v., mobile phones and finally the internet and the various ways it allows us to connect to others around the globe, from e-mail to social media. 

These are all ways to spread information and entertainment to keep us connected to one another from increasingly further and further distances. 

But, at times it feels that even though we are more connected to each other than what would be comprehensible to people born in the early 20th century, the fact we can communicate with friends and relatives or even strangers across the globe in an instant still boggles my mind and something lots of people take for granted, we’re not really connecting. 

How connected does a social media post really make us? “Liking” someone’s new vacation photo is not the same as asking them about their adventure in person or even by phone or a written letter mailed with a few favorite pictures. Experiencing and communicating vicariously through a screen does not make us more connected. When we can see the every move of those that choose to share their stories online, it is a way to share but not connect. 

The loss is felt in a personal and human way. One could argue that sending a letter and photo by mail is the same as a photo posted to Facebook but there is more care and intimacy that is required to mail directly to a friend or loved one. The intimacy of online content is lost when the entire world is exposed. Something shared directly with those close to us, even when separated by large distances, is something to be cherished. 

There’s magic that is lost in the ever expanding connectivity that the digital world offers us, even though it itself is a bit magical in its own way. But the magic of truly connecting with others is still alive in long afternoon phone calls with friends that we haven’t seen in years, or a letter or birthday card mailed from afar, or even a cut out picture from the newspaper. Stop staying “connected” and truly connect with those around you.

-Andrew Murphy

amurphy@gbtribune.com