Technology is paradoxical in nature. It both enhances and debilitates our social interactions.

Individuals and regions around the world are becoming increasingly accessible through technological advancements. Time and space no longer pose a threat to trans-regional communication. But, at the same time, our excessive use of these technologies is blinding us from the present. We’re becoming overly reclusive and disconnected from the immediate world around us. I believe we’ve begun to prefer virtual, mediated interaction to physical, personal encounters. I believe we’re struggling to live in the moment.

As a culture, we’ve become obsessed with and enamored by messages, likes and follows. So much so that we sometimes forget that we even have a life to live. We forget that not all of our opinions, emotions and experiences are meant to be broadcasted. We forget that our presence extends far beyond the virtual boundaries of social media.

I’ll give you an example.

Almost every afternoon that my girlfriend and I are together, we walk down to the beach to see the sunset. The bright colors, the majestic view—it never gets old. But every time we stand there watching the sunset, my focus is almost wholly on capturing the moment. I have to add it to my story on Snapchat. I have to post it to Instagram. I make documenting the scene a priority. But in doing so, I lose the very moment I’m trying to memorialize. I remove myself from reality. My desire to see the sunset comes in direct conflict with my desire to share and garner recognition for the experience.

There’s no doubting technology’s pervasiveness. It infiltrates and documents every nook and cranny of our lives. Nothing and no one are out of its reach. But there’s a difference between using it and abusing it. Used in moderation, social platforms can enhance our experiences and existence. Excessive use, though, can cause us to lose sight of what’s important. Perceiving everything through a screen, lens and speaker, rather than through our own senses, is a robotic form of living. Doing so removes us from reality and forces us to miss out on life’s precious moments.

Instead, we should seek to take in the sights and sounds. We should communicate with the people in the same vicinity as us. We should prioritize our engagement with the tangible world in front of us.

We need to do less documenting, and more living.