I just read an article on the interaction between loneliness and the use of digital devices. The author seems to think that our boom in technology is a major factor in the rising tide of loneliness in America.

In this age of technology, we can be connected with friends, family, and others all over the globe, all of the time.

As we spend more time with our devices in hand, we are much less likely to know and interact, in a personal way, with the people who are right in front of us. We ignore spending time with our family, friends, and neighbors while catching up on our email, or scrolling through social media to see what our friends are up to. The number of people who feel they have close friends they can confide in is decreasing.

The article contends that, decreased socializing among young Americans is not because they are more overwhelmed with homework or other responsibilities, but that time they once spent in real human interaction is now being spent with electronic devices. This preoccupation with devices is not limited to the young. "Americans of all ages are retreating to their screens."

So, what do we do? I reiterate the advice my colleague, Chris Hogue, gave in a previous article:

Leave your phone in another room unless you’re expecting a call.

Schedule social media checks or game time throughout the day, limiting time spent on social media and screens.

Inform your friends of your new usage restrictions.

In addition, in no particular order, I would add the following:

Schedule family time without screens on a regular basis.

Make time to meet with friends face to face. Invite them into your home.

Get to know your neighbors enough to at least have brief conversations in the yard.

Go on dates with your partner with phones allowed only in emergencies. No sneak peaks when she’s in the restroom!

Spend the first hour everyone is home, unplugged, interacting with family.

These are just a few suggestions, but you get the idea. We need to work more on our personal communication and spend less time with our digital devices. It’s important.

Written by Salley Sutmiller, M.S., M.Ed.