Now, I’m a seasoned traveller. As a freight forwarder, I’ve spent over 30 years travelling the globe, meeting new people, learning new cultures and understanding the world. 

I first went to Hong Kong back in 2000. And do you know what I noticed? They were ahead of the curve when it came to technology. Back in 2000 here in the UK, we were still watching VHS videos and only a few had mobile phones. But not in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong mobile phones were already a part of life. Fast forward to 2023, and it’s a sad tale to tell. Everyone is glued to their phones. Selfies are a part of every occasion and no one even looks at each other when they sit down together! 

It’s a problem here in the UK too. Colleagues will email someone 5 feet away rather than have a conversation. Restaurants are filled with people looking at their phones rather than talking to each other. Kids as young as 1 or 2 are sitting in pushchairs with an iPad! 

I remember the days when I first started out in freight – when it was all phone calls and fax machines! I love the convenience technology brings – but I hate the disconnection that this “more connected” world creates. 

What can we do about it? Well I doubt we can change the world, but we can make small changes in our own behaviour to change the way WE interact with the world and others around us. In my office, I encourage people to talk, not email. In my family, if we go out for dinner we have a no-phones policy. 

And a couple of years ago, after watching a documentary on Netflix called Social Dilemma, I quit social media – and I haven’t regretted it for a second! And it’s part of why I do the travelling that I do and attend the networks that I attend – to keep real human connection in the business (and the world!) I think it really is a critical thing to consciously do. 

How about you? Do you do anything to help balance the technology in your life? How do you feel about social media today? I’d love to hear your views…