Cynics say social media has robbed us of much of the meaningful human interaction that once filled our lives, but one look into my 7-year-old daughter’s eyes Tuesday convinces me that it also creates connections we would never have otherwise.

My wife and I had to explain to her that Caleb Logan Bratayley, a 13-year-old who was introduced to the world through his family’s YouTube channel that has more than 1.7 million subscribers, died of an undiagnosed health condition this week.

This may sound minor, but it was anything but for my family. My daughters have both watched hundreds of videos over the past five years since the Bratayleys — a pseudonym — began filming their lives.

In many ways, my daughters have grown up with their kids.

We have been blessed that we have not had to really talk to my children about death or attend a loved one’s funeral. Right or wrong, our conversations have just sort of scratched the surface of what this means.

My oldest daughter was upset for much of the evening but she would put on her bravest face when her 5-year-old sister — who we have not told yet — was around. Seeing her compassion for both her sister and this family ensured Mommy and I were in tears too.

So all the likes, tweets, virtual friends and video logs may contribute to some disconnection with individuals in our society — something we must work to overcome with good old fashioned human interaction — but they also create ways of being a little more engaged with casual acquaintances or even total strangers.

In some aspects, technology has actually brought us closer together.

We can celebrate when we see family pictures. We can brighten someone’s day by wishing him or her happy birthday from afar. We can offer a shoulder of support when it is needed.

And, perhaps most important, we can know when it’s time to pickup the telephone or make a visit.

None of this makes it easier for a 7-year-old who feels like she lost a friend, but it sure offers some consolation for parents who are realizing we are all going to be OK in this high-tech, social media world.

 

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.