Technology..the Reason We Are so Scared to Go Outside?

Crystal's view:

Growing up...I remember being able to go outside and play. A simple "mom I'm going outside to play" sufficed. She needed no other persuasion or reasoning from me. I could walk myself to school (a block and a half away from my home) in the third grade without a care in the world. All of my elementary school friends were able to do the same. We could hang out after school for an hour or so before going home without parental supervision in the fifth grade.

My parents trusted me and trusted our neighbors back then (which was only about 15 years ago). What has changed so much that we won't let our children out by themselves to play in the front yard? Or have fear while going to the grocery store at night alone? What is so different?

Why has our fear as not only parents but people in general been heightened? Generations before us seemed to be less afraid to live. To go out and do the things they needed to do without extra fear in their minds of something horrible happening while they were out. Even though there were killers and kidnappers back then just like today, we are more cautious and afraid nowadays. At least this is how it seems.

Is the availability of information not only through radio, and news channels but also social media sites part of this fear? By simply reviewing your news feed from your profiles, news of horrific events can be seen within minutes of the event taking place. We all can easily receive information through social media, emails, text messaging etc. without any real work. Without waiting for the newspaper in the morning or the 7 am news broadcast we have the ability to receive information within seconds unlike in the past.

The availability of videos and picture sharing is a phenomena like no other. Sharing information is super easy and can reach people all over the world through one accessible website. In the past, these commodities were available but not through the internet. You would have to personally show someone the photo you took of your family gatherings or the video of your daughter's first dance recital. News traveled differently then and now that technology is so advanced everyone is connected.

Are you a frequent smart phone user? Who isn't, right? Personally, I check my phone countless time throughout the day, starting when I wake up to view my emails and notifications on my smartphone. Throughout the day I have notifications for the games and apps I have stored on my phone and any activity on my media sites. These notifications usually pop up at the very least, once every half hour. Most of the time it is way more often. So being in the know to the "outside" world is a key part of my life, and more than likely a part of yours too.

Through these advanced technological leaps for smart phones and computers, people are able to give and receive any information they need through a few key strokes of a keyboard.

With more knowledge comes responsibility, so is that what we are doing? Feeling responsible for the world's mistakes and keeping them internally through fear? It's a very big possibility!