I'm sure you have all sat in silently with a group of people—all eagerly engaged with their phones, tablets and laptops. Maybe you didn't think anything of it because, let's be honest, that's the norm today. Or maybe more of your experiences don't actually involve the physical presence of anyone else. Why would you need their physical presence when you can communicate and be fully updated on their lives—and everyone else's—by checking Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, texts, YouTube, Vine, and Snapchat? I remember my last road trip to California where my friend (who was more interested in his phone than the beach) excitedly pointed out that there was so much to look at on different social networking sites and so many sites, that by the time you look through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat, you can just start over and look through each again because there are always new posts! That's what social networking sites are for, right? To keep you indefinitely entertained, while you miss out on reality, isolate yourself, see the best bits of everyone else, and portray yourself as someone people are sure to like, without ever having to utter a word or practice any vulnerability.
Why have a real relationship, where you have to spend time with friends, be vulnerable and let people see you for who you really are, when you can just post pictures with filters and portray yourself in a way that is probably far more interesting and entertaining to others? People like you better on a screen anyway. Isolation is more fun than socialization. Relationships aren't important. Right?
Maybe not. And Gary Turk will tell you why. Check out his video, if you haven't already. And then, get off your phone, tablet or computer, and check in with reality!