Living through a three inch screen

As everyone knows, we have reached the point that most everyone has a phone capable of capturing images and video. Not only do we have the ability to document the events and milestones of our lives, but we also have the means to share those events. There are of course a lot of ways to share digital media, but Facebook is really the game changer. Facebook has slowly become the projection of our lives. We share the things that we think are interesting, broadcasting to the world how interesting our lives are.

Life sharing is not in itself a bad thing, but keeping up with the Joneses has taken on a whole new meaning. We used to keep our lawn beautiful, and wash the boat in our driveway. Maybe get designer clothes for ourselves and children, hinting to the world that we are successful, and do interesting things. But now, not only do we wash the boat in the driveway, we take pictures of the boat while it’s pulling a bikini clad 20 something on water skis and post the picture to our Facebook.

In a George Clooney interview, he stated that when he is walking the Red Carpet headed into a movie premier, he used to reach out to shake hands with people. But now, as he extends his hand, he is greeted with a cell phone that is recording. The one recording does not even get to perform the handshake. It’s no longer good enough to shake hands, make eye contact, maybe even exchange words with the celebrity. You have to have it on video and post it to facebook.

Spike Lee recording President Obama during a rope-line walk

To keep up with the Joneses, every event of interest must be recorded, commentary added, and it must be posted online. How many of these milestones are we missing because of our need to share them?

My humble solution is of course the business I created. It’s rare that while someone is at a beautiful event, posing for some memorable images, they whip out a camera phone to take a picture of the picture taking. A photo booth can be a great way to create one of the few memorable events, that no one feels the need to view, through a three inch screen.