Technology ‘advances’ make us long for human connection

Have you ever found yourself yelling at the automated customer service voice because she can’t understand what you’re saying? How many times has the self-serve kiosk you’re using to check out at the grocery store not worked? How long did you wait for service? Have you ever been driving down the road yelling at a phone repeatedly, requesting that your car operating system dial a particular number?

This is just the tip of the iceberg, isn’t it? It seems as if the world is coming up with new ways to automate daily. If you’re feeling frustrated, you’re not alone. Reports show that many people are fed up with the new systems being put in place. While technology is designed to make our lives easier and more effective, it often complicates it and even slows us down.

Privacy is the other technological issue we hear a lot about in our work. People are concerned about inappropriate exposure to private matters by random companies. If you want to use certain platforms, you must cooperate with the company’s desire to collect a variety of information, from health and financial data to preferences of all kinds, even food. How often have you been looking at a product online only to find that exact product or a similar one pops up in your social media feed or in your email?

The goal of reducing human interactions by many companies these days leaves a lot to be desired by many. People are craving the connection with others that preceded the latest and greatest technological advances. You can certainly reach out to these companies and platforms. You can also make choices about how you want to engage and participate to some extent. Ultimately, it’s important to be intentional about getting more human engagement in ways that you can. Connecting to others in a more personalized way may be just what many need right now. And if you’re suffering from technology burnout, take steps to care for your stress levels.