I have copied the image I chose above. This image depicts a set of parents, both on the couch, more focused on their tablets than on their baby. This image is kind of ironic because usually when you see the impact of technology on a family, you think of a baby with an iPhone or a child with his or her eyes glued to a TV screen, but this is almost the opposite. This image has the parents on their own devices and the baby just on the side, and everybody is doing their own thing even though they are all within a few feet of each other, not even facing one another. Also, it can be inferred that neither of the parents seem to be doing any work because of their relaxed postures and the absence of, for example a desk, any papers, or a proper computer. This implies that this is the family’s free time and what they choose to do with it is go on their separate devices and not interact with the rest of their family.

This photo is clearly staged and looks like one of those royalty free images people can use in their projects or videos. The lighter color scheme, background, and composition of this picture makes it seem like this should be another one of those ‘American Dream’ photos with a perfect couple, perfect family, and perfect home, though this is clearly showing something different.

This picture also shows how technology can separate and divide people and families, because even though they could be doing a number of things, this couple decides to go on their own screens and do something online. And there is a significant ease of availability to do this, because that is how the companies making these products do their marketing and selling. Adding on to that, the online world just seems more interesting than real life, which, again, is crafted to feel that way. Think about if you would rather watch, say, a TV show produced with a budget of millions of dollars per episode, with amazingly crafted costumes, constant drama, tension, love triangles, captivating scenery and dialogue, or even just a show or movie about regular people with more interesting lives than you, with characters with constantly funny lines and interesting friends always ready to hang out, or go back to your own life, which pales in comparison.