The Moral Crisis of Connection

Having close personal relationships is a core dimension of human flourishing as defined by the Global Flourishing Study. Yet in an age where technology has enabled an always-on, hyper connected, boundaryless world, many people find themselves having hundreds of interactions per day yet still feeling deeply isolated, even alone.

It goes without saying that marriage and family provide the most profound and essential element of human relationships. Numerous studies have found that marriage contributes significantly to flourishing, with married people experiencing better physical and mental health, greater happiness and a deeper sense of purpose.  

Like other aspects of life, however, marriage is not immune to the effects of technology. From smartphones to social media and now AI, technology has the potential to impact marriage and families in positive and negative ways. While those technologies can certainly be useful, they can also be sources of distraction, increasing the desire for instant gratification, low-stakes commitment and algorithm-driven affection. 

But marriage and family were never meant to be driven by convenience. They are sacred institutions, rooted in covenant, forged through commitment and built over time. No algorithm can replace the essential values of marriage and family – empathy, sacrifice and unconditional love. No technology by itself can provide meaningful human connection or build unshakeable bonds.

Technology is a Tool Not an End in Itself

While technology can help shape how we relate, it’s essential that we use it in the service of personal relationships rather than as a replacement for them. One danger is that without moral guidance, technologies like AI will reflect and reinforce a transactional and ephemeral view of relationships – scroll, swipe, match, repeat. This is why it’s so critical that we build these technologies to support human well being. 

If we want our relationships to flourish amidst the rise of technologies like AI, we must take leadership now. Like all technology, AI is inherently neutral; our actions shape it for good or otherwise. AI can reflect our values - but only if we get involved and show up. We must ensure that the next generation sees marriage not as a lifestyle option or a gamified online experience, but as a calling. We must reinforce the essential truth that family is not something we assemble for comfort, but something we build through grace. 

This is our charge: to guide technology to support deep, meaningful and lasting relationships, not disposable ones. We want to shape it to support and reinforce commitment rather than letting it shape us into accepting distraction. And we are called to speak boldly about the kind of love that actually changes lives.

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