Talking About Networking: Are We More Connected or More Disconnected Nowadays?

Looking at a recent speech project from my Toastmasters pathway about networking, I can’t help recalling some personal experiences I’ve had:

I still vividly remember that spring day in 2018. With a simple click on a WeChat group invitation, I reunited with most of my elementary school classmates—people I hadn’t seen in over 30 years. Isn’t that amazing?

I grew up in a small city where many of my elementary classmates also became my middle and high school peers, only my family moved away when I was in Grade 11. Naturally, we were all excited about the reunion! Someone posted our elementary school graduation photos, so we began identifying everyone. Memories came flooding back, and all kinds of anecdotes surfaced, sparking a lot of laughter.

One successful entrepreneur in our group was “accused” by many female classmates for his childhood foolishness. A male classmate of mine confessed the little scheme he used to become my desk-mate. These shared stories, filled with humor and nostalgia, drew us closer than ever.

It was a pleasant networking  experience, and I witnessed how technology can bridge time and distance, creating opportunities for connection.

When I visited China in 2019, I had the chance to meet some of these classmates in person. This time, the experience felt different. While their hospitality touched me—they took me on tours and treated me to local cuisine—the dinner party left me a bit perplexed. Most of the evening was spent toasting. One by one, my classmates approached to raise their glasses, offering wishes for health or fortune, followed by a quick drink. Meanwhile they took this chance to exchange toasts with one another as well.

Later I realized this was a common social custom in China. Yet, to me, it felt a little formal and superficial. Couldn’t we have used the occasion to dive deeper, to truly catch up on each other’s lives?

This experience made me reflect on the nature of connection in the modern world. Technology has made networking easier than ever. With a single Zoom meeting, you can interact with people from all corners of the globe. A video call brings distant friends to your screen, and social media platforms offer endless opportunities to expand your network.

It seems we are all connected in one way or another. However,if you scroll through your long list of phone or WeChat contacts, how many people could you comfortably call for a heartfelt conversation? How many would genuinely be there for you in times of need? In the era of networking, are we truly connecting?

Research shows that one in four adults worldwide report feeling lonely. Technology has undoubtedly made it easier to stay in touch, but it hasn’t necessarily brought us closer. In fact, it might even deepen the sense of isolation when traditional ways of bonding fade from our lives.

I remember when my family just moved to our neighborhood. Back then, kids from the street would often knock on our door, inviting my sons to play outside. It reminded me of my own childhood: what  fun I had playing outdoors with my friends until my mom called out, “ Dinner time!” I have forgotten when exactly my kids stopped going outside playing with others, but I know it has something to do with the internet, smart phones, and video games. 

What have our kids lost? Can playing video games and chatting on social media ever compare with running and laughing together in the fresh air with friends?

Now with Christmas around the corner. I think about the traditions I only ever read from books: neighbors dressed in festive attire, going door to door singing carols, sharing snacks, and spreading warmth. How joyful and heart-warming that must have been! But such traditions seem to have disappeared. Can virtual gatherings have the same power to bond people with holiday spirit?  

To conclude, while we celebrate and cheer for all the conveniences modern technology has brought to us, it’s worth pausing to consider what truly matters. What do we value most as human beings? What are the essentials for building meaningful relationships and fostering genuine connections?