It's no secret that, as a society, we are very attached to our technology. From cell phones and tablets to TV and computers, we are surrounded by it nearly 24/7. While there are obviously many, many amazing things technology has done for us, sometimes that intense connection many of us feel to our cell phones or tablets can cause us to miss out on what is right in front of us.
The first time I remember noticing how much of a distraction technology could really be was at a family dinner at Fuddruckers a few years ago. While we ate, we couldn't help but notice the family sitting at the table across from us. One of the things that we first noticed was how silent they were. But as we continued to try to inconspicuously observe them, we began to notice that they were all on their phones. All five of them, from the 50-something father down to a middle school aged boy, had their eyes completely glued to them. They stayed like this from the beginning of the meal all the way until both of our families left to pay. While in today's world it's not an entirely shocking sight to see, it was definitely interesting to notice just how engrossing technology can be.
Of course, even while saying this, I am definitely no technology saint. I have spent plenty of time buried in my Instagram feed instead of chatting with friends, sneakily trying to check a text instead of listening to my professor or even clearing my notifications during a meal. I in no way want to belittle technology and the amazing impact it can have on society, but even so, there are definitely some times (such as meal times) when technology may be taking away from the here and now experience.
Recently, Chick-fil-A has apparently also noticed the impact that technology has had on meal time. Last week, news began to spread quickly about the restaurant chain's new "Family Challenge." While this may sound like some contest to see who can eat the most chicken nuggets, it is actually a technology-related challenge. In order to participate in this challenge, you begin your meal by picking up a "Cell Phone Coop" and placing the phones of everyone in your party inside. The challenge is that your phones must remain there for the duration of your meal. Those that succeed in doing this task are rewarded with free ice cream at the end of their meal.
While some people may think this idea is over the top or ridiculous, it is important to think of all of the benefits that this task may have for those involved. While it may be easy for adults to put technology down when they need to, it can definitely be much harder with kids. In today's world, children continue to be exposed to technology at younger and younger ages, making them much more dependent on it later on in life. It isn't uncommon to see grade school aged children with their own cell phones and iPads. It is definitely good to show children the importance of powering down and spending time with those they care about.
Even for teens and adults, it can be difficult with our crazy schedules to remember to unplug and take a breather. While technology is definitely fun and cool, ice cream is definitely a good incentive to take some time away and enjoy a simple meal with those close to us.
