How Does Technology Affect Your Friendships?

 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

EMPATHY

Empathy requires that we slow down and patiently consider another person-something  that may seem difficult to achieve with an overload of social media posts and rapid-fire texting. 

In time, if technology is controlling you,  responding to your friend's messages can seem like another  chore on your to-do list.  Your goal becomes to  clear out your in-box rather than to help a friend in need.

TO THINK ABOUT:  How can you maintain  "fellow feeling" when you use technology to communicate with friends?- 1 PETER 3:8.

EMPTINESS

One study found that many people felt worse after browsing through a popular  social media platform.  The researchers concluded that looking at the pictures and updates of others can leave a person with "a feeling of not having anything meaningful."

Furthermore, looking at the exciting photos others have posted can lead to negative comparisons. After all, it may seem as if everyone else were having a good time, while your own lfe is in a rut.

TO THINK ABOUT:  When using social media, how can you avoid negatively comparing yourself with others, - GALATIANS  6:4.

Self-FOCUS

One teacher notes that some of her students seem inclined toward one-sided friendships in which their greatest concern is, "Who has my back?" Such friendships focus merely on what one gets our of the friendship.  A person could start to view his friends as apps that can be used and shut off as needed. 

TO THINK ABOUT:  Does what you post online show that you have the biggest tendency to be competitive or to focus too much on  yourself?  -  GALATIANS 5:26.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

EXAMINE THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

When technology is your servant rather than your master, it will keep you in touch with your friends and even draw close to them.

BIBLE PRINCIPLE: "Love . . . does not look for its own interests." - 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4, 5. 

Note the suggestions you would like to implement, or write down your own ideas.

* Have more in-person conversations (rather than solely relying or texting or email) 

* Put away (or silence) the phone when conversing with others

* Cut back on the time spend scrolling through social media

*  Become a better listener

* Contact a friend who is going through a hard time

Next time:  How Does Technology Affect Your Children? 

From the jw.org publications