kids-addicted-to-technology

I’m a mum of a 4-year-old, a wife, I have a home and a business. I also have a dog, cat (currently missing) and two gold-fish. 

I believe the world is absolutely huge for my four-year but to her I am her world, for now.

When I get into work I check in on Twitter and Facebook, I’ve begun checking in on Foursquare also.  intermittently throughout the day I check back in – comment and update.

When I get home and settle in for the evening I’ll pop online while himself reads the paper or crashes in front of the TV.

What have I learnt? My world has become a smaller place! 

I enjoy talking to my partner, I adore playing games with my little girl, I love catching up with my friends. More and more of this has become online through email, texts, and FB. 

I’m decided to “try” to pull back and use more wisely. FB I can do during downtime but only when its my own downtime. Twitter I’ll only use in work, well unless there’s something truly interesting to comment on!

When Molly (my 4 year old) and I are in the car and I’m tired she used to play with my iphone, interact with the games or listen to audio books – not anymore – now we sing, play eye-spy and see who can spot the first blue/red/green car etc

At the weekend – phones and laptops are no longer permitted, apart from when we are actually working.  I remember heading away early this year when a client issue arose.  I spent four days trying to drive from the backlands of Malin Head to a spot I could get some service to pop online.  When the crisis was over at least a day Molly looked at me exclaiming “Mummy you’re not on the phone, hurrah”. Guilt.

I have to say I was never too bad – for anyone who follows me through any of the above I’m sure you’ll be wondering what the fuss is about.  It is just that I notice I’m getting sucked in more and more, I’m meeting my friends 12 yr olds online (I’m mean seriously) and my daughter can work her way around my phone better than most 40 year olds! Maybe I’m beginning to lament the family dinners around the table, the forest walks at the weekend and the days when you printed your pictures and shared them with only your nearest and dearest.

I also find Twitter can be cruel, FB can be intrusive and Foursquare I’ve yet to really “get”.  From a recent survey apparently 84% of US adults don’t engage on location based apps – I don’t blame them at all. 

We are a small island and the community on Twitter even smaller – its easy for a small group to make a lot of waves – there’s a sense of urgency that all business and brands have to engage, be online and keep talking – I get that but really have we moved as fast as the social media experts would like you to believe?

I asked 47 of my friends and family how much they engage and out of the 47 only 17 were on FB and from those 8 had linked with a brand but 5 had hidden those from view! Surely that tells us something?

Interestingly out of the 47 – 33 all had implemented bans within the home.  No phones at the table, 1 hour of laptop time a day, dedicated work times, no tv watching and text pushing – things to make their families communicate more. Perhaps that way we can remember to talk to each other about the things that we love, worry and enjoy.

What is it they say… All good things in moderation.

Author: Liz