With technology continuing to grow and develop, the way people communicate has drastically changed as well. Social media, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat claims to bring people closer together; however, their usage of these social media platforms seems to prove otherwise. Communication in social media apps involves a lot of performing instead of being present in conversations. While it was not easy to stay online before, nowadays, one does not have to invest much energy at all to talk to a friend at night, react to a post, or keep streaks going. It becomes less and less convenient to talk while people are present, because of having a distraction of a smartphone in front of them. 

An important component of human life starts simply losing significance as people learn to do without it. Human communication includes various aspects such as eye contact, awkward silence, tone of voice, and vulnerability. The features that cannot be experienced while talking on social media. This makes relationships way more distant and transactional as people get used to avoiding efforts that would help build true relationships. 

This is why stepping away from technology is not about turning your back on progress, but it is about recapturing something that is slipping away from us. Deciding to take breaks from the screen, to silence your cell phone when other people, and even allowing yourself to be bored rather than immediately amused, makes room for genuine connection. It requires that we return to the kind of engagement that grows connection rather than simply creating an illusion of a true connection with someone. Stepping backward does not mean fully eliminating technology from our lives, but it does ask that we think carefully about when we use it and when we avoid its use.