Did you know that on average people who have access to the Internet spend 6-7 hours per day online and that 28% of that time is spent just on social media (Social Times January 27, 2015)? Did you realize "teens are using social media as a crutch, a replacement for the in-person interactions that help them develop socially." (The Atlantic, January 2015). The past few years, we all have been consumed by social media and technology. We thought the more connections we had or the more friends we had was proof of how many genuine relationships we had. We have continued to Like, Tweet, post, link, friend, share, more and more and more. We now go to lunch with friends and barely acknowledge their presence around the same table because we're all frantically on our mobile devices; we're more inclined to send a text than make a phone call because we spend an average of almost 2 hours every day just on social media platforms. And why? To show everyone how seemingly awesome our lives seem to be? KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES FACADE. What's NOT trending is true connection with people in our lives. Learning, loving, helping, questioning each other and problem-solving together, growing, depending, leaning on, raising up, reflecting, even laughing our a**es off and sharing secrets. We owe it to each other to be there for each other. Will the world crumble if you don't have access to your technology for a couple of house each month, knowing that you'll be on social media abou gonna miss a couple of hours without your tech in hand when we

This petition is for everyone to publicly commit to spending a little less time plugged in and a little more time tuned in to other human beings. Check Ur Tech 2 Reconnect is a movement to foster face-to-face, real time human reconnections by creating informal or formal gatherings of 2 or more people that are designated tech-free.

This petition is simply a commitment to coordinate one of these gatherings in the next 30-45 days. A Check Ur Tech 2 Reconnect gathering has to be 2 or more people doing anything together (attending a party, grabbing coffee, camping, shopping, happy hour, throwing a baby shower, hosting a formal dinner party, lunch, first date, cultural outing, etc). There is even an infotaining blog with tips and news you can use www.CheckUrTech2Reconnect.blogspot.com.

PLEASE SIGN YOUR NAME AND CHECK UR TECH 2 RECONNECT.

I, the undersigned, value how important human connections are and I realize that on average Americans are spending 6-7 hours online every day. Therefore, I do commit to coordinating at least one Check Ur Tech 2 Reconnect gathering in the next 45 days and will try to attend as many of these events as possible to which I am invited. I also will forward this to friends and family to show the commitment I've made to Check Ur Tech 2 Reconnect.