As a child growing up in Canada, we had maybe a dozen channels on the TV to choose from, which increased as I became a teenager. This meant we would watch TV most evenings and occasionally after school. Looking back I watched a lot of TV as a kid but it was still limited by the availability programming. Today we have entertainment at our fingertips every minute of the day. How is this constant visual stimulation affecting us?
Everywhere I go I see people looking at their digital devices. On airplanes, on the subway, standing in line, and even waiting at traffic lights people are looking down at their screens. They are looking at posts, videos, GIFs, or text messages. Some of our screen time is communication or some practical application that actually makes life better. However, most of the time we are looking to be entertained.
On a recent flight that I was on the woman beside me was watching an Ariana Grande concert. What caught my attention was that in the video of the concert, almost everyone I could see in front of the stage was not watching the concert but was watching their screen as they filmed the concert. Instead of enjoying the full experience people with the best seats in the house were focussed on capturing the moment on their phones rather than in their memories. We have not only developed a need to be constantly entertained but we are reliant on our screens for this entertainment.
When I walk the dog early in the morning, the view into a neighbour's window is not to be overlooked. Their huge flatscreen TV is almost always on. Most mornings I see someone playing a video game, which I assume is something like World of Warcraft, before going to work. Recently I heard that same neighbour in the backyard with his son, a toddler around two years old. He was trying to play ball with him but his young son screamed that he wanted to watch his video. “Of course, you can watch your video.” consoled the father. Soon they were back in front of their huge screen. Being outside playing ball could no longer entertain this child.
The mind hates being bored so it is understandable that we seek to occupy it. Unfortunately, what we occupy our minds with has primarily become some digital form of visual stimulation. There is no more time for contemplation or self-reflection. Where is the time for creativity or imagination? At least daydreaming is an active use of the brain. Instead, we passively take in images and information that dominate our attention and distract us from our other thoughts and feelings.
If we don’t take the time to reflect on our experiences and the thoughts and feelings that arise from what we experience, we will become dysfunctional. It will become more difficult to make sense of life and the world around us if we primarily view it through a screen. Instead of news and entertainment being a short break from our day, it has become the dominant occupation of our free time. What we may need are more regular breaks from that which entertains us.
The irony that you are reading this on some form of digital device, occupying your mind with my thoughts, is not lost on me. So let this be a reminder to shut off your device and go have an engaging conversation with a real live person or spend some time in nature and let your mind roam free. Free of entertainment.
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