The Paradox of Social Media
The paradox of social media is that it actually creates increased feelings of loneliness and detachment. This is because it only offers the facade of connection without actually providing real connection.
The first year of marriage found my wife and I spending many months apart figuring out visas and immigration — I loved that technology was able to help us stay in contact but it was never able to create true connection.
We’re hardwired for in-person, physical connection; it’s what we need to thrive and survive. We need it as fathers and our children absolutely need it.
It should be no surprise then that increasing numbers of people who spend time on social media and their phones report feeling lonely, depressed, or anxious.
This is why, even if we make the decision to provide a smartphone to our children, social media should never be permitted. Instead we need to provide and encourage real, in-person connection for our children.
One way we can do this is by opening our homes and allowing our children to invite their friends to spend time together; without personal screens that isolate.
Our children need connection, not the counterfeits that cause harm.
From my home,
Matthew
Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™
Our pledge.
I will lead my family — by example and instruction — to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, and nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith. To protect my family, I will not allow social media or unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted access to screens, gaming, or the internet in my home, nor will I provide personal smartphones to my children until they demonstrate the maturity to use them responsibly.