Social Media: Blessing or Cursing?

Now don’t get me wrong. I love technology. I have a Master’s in Educational Technology. I can open my garage door from anywhere just using an app on  my phone. My wife has a crock pot that can be turned on, setup, and controlled by her phone. We have smart plugs in the house. Last night we had a friendly war turning the television on and off through Alexa and our phones. (I don’t recommend it; I really isn’t good for the tv.) In Arizona we had the house thermostat and the front door able to be remotely accessed. And that’s just the beginning. There are smart houses now that set the mood with music at dinner time, turn on lights as you enter, adjust heating and cooling according to whether the room is occupied or not, and even open the garage door as it senses you come down the street.

Technology by definition, is simple a tool of applied science. It in itself is neither good or bad. It’s how we use it. I remember when I was young that many preachers would rant about the evils of tv in the home. This was really confusing for me, because my father had a tv sales and repair business. When I asked him how he felt about it, he said, “I have never sold a tv that didn’t do what you wanted it to do”. It was up to the user to control it.

One of the newest technologies to change our lives is Social Media. And like any technology it has it’s good and bad sides. There are many that would be happy if it went away completely. There are those that are addicted and overuse it continually. It’s still about how you use it. I love seeing pictures and videos of my grandchildren. They live far enough away that we would never be able to stay in touch without it. I love connecting with people around the world on various projects. The key is control. Technology is only as good as the control parameters and settings that you give it. Here’s some hints to help you manage.

1 Know your technology – In this day and age, you can Google information about settings and configuration of virtually any app. There are sites that will help you decide if an app is for you, or if some other one might be more fitting.

2. Set you apps for safe search and pay attention to privacy settings. If you are not sure, ask a trusted friend.

3. Set limits on your app time. Your phone may have settings that track usage so you can see how much time you spend every day on an app. You might be surprised.

Ultimately, Security, content and amount of use are yours to control. Choose wisely!