Tech Talk: Introduction

Somehow, that no turned into an “I’ll think about it,” and then a reluctant yes. I spent the following summer researching everything related to technology and its effects on our lives, brains, and relationships. I pored through books and articles, both secular and religious. I listened to speeches calling for moderation and those calling for an extreme approach. I researched until I felt like I had an accurate grasp of the studies and concerns. And I came to the conclusion that tackling this topic directly is important — and impossible.

You see, the problem with addressing technology is that every couple of months, the landscape changes completely. Apps appear and get updated and outdated almost daily. Our cars, houses, physical fitness levels can now be seamlessly integrated into our smartphones. Wearable technology is ubiquitous. It’s simply not possible to keep up with every new development, let alone decide what is okay, not okay, or definitely not okay across the board. I am neither sufficiently tech-savvy nor learned in Torah hashkafah to make those decisions.

And yet, after reading all the research, I can’t pretend to be oblivious. What I now know, I can share.

In the end, I developed the program and ran it. What follows are the thoughts and experiences of six adults and teens who participated. These journal entries were written by real people, at different stages in life and from different backgrounds. They have different feelings and viewpoints, but are all evaluating their relationship to technology and being completely honest about their journey. I have changed as few details about them as possible in order to preserve their true voices. Honest introspection and keeping an open mind while assessing one’s most personal lifestyle habits are not for the faint of heart. I hope you will join us on this journey.