The Pulling Effect Of Tech

Radio pulled us away from conversations with neighbours on the street.

Television pulled us indoors.

Computers pulled us into separate rooms.

And smartphones pulled us into ourselves.

Consumer tech has a trend of pulling us in. It’s how the attention economy makes money.

Sure, it’s opened us up to the world — new ideas, new conversations, new cultures — but it’s done so at the risk of closing us to our own.

At the end of the day, technology is a tool, one that can be used to build community.

But like most tools, it can also be used as a weapon.

Our job isn’t to avoid tech altogether.

Our job is simply to push back.

(Inspired by a conversation with Sarah Friar).