Entry #4 - Severed Link

Severed Link

By Isabel Bianca D. Fule

Child:

Pa, ma

Father:

Yes?

Mother:

Ano yun?

Child:

May classmates po kasi ako.

Mother:

O tapos, anong nangyari?

Child:

Hindi po sila friendly.

Mother:

Ha? bakit?

Child:

Bad po sila.

Mother:

Bakit naging ganun?

Father:

Ha? Hello? Hello?

The parents are both engaging themselves to their gadgets and gizmos as the child helplessly struggles to capture their attention. This is the sole reason why Monde Nissin Corporation, the makers of “Lucky Me,” produced this TV commercial in order to embolden more Filipino families to recuperate the neglected practice of eating together.

This is not just a scenario seen through the screens of our televisions, but it can also be witnessed in real life. The family goes together physically at the dinner table, yet mentally disconnected by digital devices.

I am a millennial kid. I am also a 21st century learner and a computer expert. There is no denying that I, as well as my co “techie savvy” have access to information through technology all the time. Countless people of all ages, races, and cultures are spending numerous hours interacting on the most popular social networking sites available. From the press of a button to the slide of a tablet, we have indeed embraced the digital world.

Technology in today’s world offers a plethora of ways to communicate effectively so that each one of us can keep in touch. From Facebook, Twitter, Skype, emails, and text messaging, communication has never been more available. The sad news is, although we get connected with our friends, and yes, even with strangers through social networking, we lose connection with human beings, literally speaking.

Gone are the days when we tag each other during a game of “patintero,” fiddle with the hardened seeds of “piko,” or laugh at how dirty our feet look like as we play “tumbang preso.” In the present time, we run through a perilous trail of a deserted temple, jump on spiky obstacles, and collect coins while being chased by a barrel of horrifying gorillas. This is the popular ipad app, Temple Run 2. People also find delight matching objects of the same color and creating as many combos while hearing the words, “sweet,” “tasty,” or “divine.” And by objects, I meant candies.

The scrumptious graphics of Candy Crush Saga earns about $956,114 in an estimated daily revenue and gets about 60,790 daily installs. The list goes on. Thus, making the year 2013, truly, the year of the ipad.

The word, “tag” can refer to price tag or a bag tag perhaps, but if you ask a regular teenager like me, the first thing that will pop out of my mind is Facebook – Ah, the new enemy of education.

Recently, Oxford dictionary added a slew of words that only recently came into general usage.

Some of these are “twerk,” a portion of Miley Cyrus’ identity, “derp,” pertaining to a foolish action, “selfie,” a photograph that one has taken of oneself, and “phablet,” a portmanteau of “phone” and “tablet.” Many of these were driven by fast-moving trends in technology and culture.

Times have changed.

Whether we like it or not, technology is in our world, and I assume that the people of the next generation do not know life without it. Technological developments are altering every facade of the world we live in; environmentally, scientifically, and socially. There is no doubt that

technology can sometimes cause conflicts within a family. And these conflicts have only increased as the Internet and social media have joined distractions such as TV, cell phones and the computer.

According to a Family Tech, they have enumerated some negative effects of technology towards a family. These are problems in school performance, poor quality time, a less empathetic generation, and walled boundaries, all of these producing an “inside� generation. This divide has grown due to the increased use of technology among children in several ways. By balancing technology with intimate family interaction, most families should be able to enjoy a diverse lifestyle.

The family dinner is a perfect example of technology affecting quality time. Customarily, it is a refuge from the outside world and a chance to reconnect, but the present generation’s dinner is an event when members tend to be distracted during the meal.

Our family eats together: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everyone should be in the table before the food is served. Eating together is a vital part of a strong, and stable family relationship, helps to develop sense of security and stability, allows children to share their ideas and views, and the children gain a better sense of belongingness within the family.

Technology comes or goes, so does our choice for the latest gadget. Let it not be said that we are keeping our options open for any human connectedness to happen. – Only meaningful relationship stays forever.