Digital Disappointment

We’re expecting too much of our devices.
In 2016, there is little debate that we’re now living in the heyday of the “digital era”. It’s been said so many times that now it almost sounds banal, but as the modern conveniences and capabilities of digital technology have changed our lives in previously unimagined ways, a new phenomenon has arisen alongside it: digital disappointment.
As tech has improved, so too have our expectations of how easy and seamless online processes should be. This elevation of expectations leads to increased frustration with minor inconveniences that would have been commonplace a couple of years ago, for example:“Why do I have to bring my boarding pass?”, “Why can’t I stream this show?”, “Why is there no functional mobile version for this site?”. Because so many things work seamlessly and efficiently on our phones and devices, we expect that everything should. When they don’t we’re left with a sense of disappointment and frustration that, while real, may not be entirely warranted. Our patience has lowered while our expectations have sky-rocketed.
For a younger generation, this feeling is perhaps even more pronounced. Born in a time when phone books were no longer necessary and when computers were actually turned off when not in use, digital natives see little to no distinction between being “online” and “offline”. Thus, when there is no internet available or a connection is slow, they feel entirely hindered and uncomfortable. In a form of generational instant gratification, this younger generation is not familiar with not being able to get the information they want exactly when they want it.
This trend is in line with the broader trajectory of where many critics say technology is heading. The “post digital” era is upon us, writes Tom Goodwin at TechCrunch, wherein we will stop using the word digital to describe things and “wake up to a modern world where ‘digital’ is like electricity. A totally vital, totally transformative, entirely background concept.”
This concept is entirely frightening to some people, but the way things are going, it seems entirely plausible. However, in the meantime there are ways we can both recognise our digital disappointment and mitigate it so it doesn’t negatively affect our moods.
The first and best way to do that is to gain a little perspective. It may be hard to imagine in the developed and uber-connected world, but there are myriad people on the planet who don’t have access 24/7—or even at all. Despite that, those people are still able to live full and satisfying lives. Expressing a little gratitude for your access to constant connectivity is a good way to realise that it is not, in fact, essential to your human existence. If you’re really struggling it might be a good idea to visit a place where connectivity is not a given, and to remember what life can be like without 4G.  
Many in Silicon Valley have embraced the idea of mindfulness, and it may be a good idea for you too if you feel you’re suffering from high levels of digital disappointment. With the constant stream of information that’s available on a constant basis, it’s hard to remember what your brain is like in it’s “off” mode. So, if you find yourself unable to connect for a few minutes, why not take advantage of the down time and integrate some mindfulness? Turn off your “receptive” mode and tune into your thoughts with a mindfulness practice. Just a few minutes a day of deep breathing with no devices will do wonders to mitigate the effects of always being connected. If you can’t empty your mind of thoughts, just follow your thoughts as they come and go.