“In the age of social media, we need to learn to be present. We need to create time to be fully aware. We are losing our self-knowledge.” These are the words of Sean Binder, speaking to over 200 youth.

Binder, director of Storm Mountain Center, shared his thoughts on technology and digital communication with youth from churches in the Mitchell area at the Sherman Center on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University. Photo: Youth listening to Sean Binder speak about presence in a digital world at the Sherman Center on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University. Photos by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference.

He encouraged those present to spend time in the moment, to be truly present and connect with yourself and with your surroundings. Binder told the audience that the average person spends 10-13 hours a day connected to technology and that it is important to turn off the noise.

“When we only connect digitally with others, we miss the emotional depth of the interaction.”

Sean shared his experiences with technology—growing up with a black and white television, driving an older car without Bluetooth, using a flip phone. “I don’t have to have the latest device to be connected. “

I Timothy 6: 17-19 was cited by Binder as words that should guide our communication and use of technology. “Be present in the moment. This moment will not return. Take the advice of Paul when he wrote to Timothy— ‘God richly provides us with everything for enjoyment.’  Are you rich in this present world? Or, are you caught up in the latest post, tweet or streak? “

Binder described that the brain has two hemispheres, the right and left. The left hemisphere deciphers what we read online. The right hemisphere provides a contextual reference in the environment and emotional depth.  “Social media tells us how we are suppose to feel, the context and emotional depth are missing. We need to spend time with ourselves and our surrounding to allow the right hemisphere of our brains to work.”

Photo: Sean Binder emphasizes how we need to pay attention to the context around us—unplug and be present.

Technology is great and provides us with convenience and new ways for us to communicate with people, Binder told the audience. We need to embrace it.  We also need to be aware of what it is not. “Technology does not replace the human emotion. It can cause us to lose are self-knowledge.”