For many years now, the relentless advance of modern technology poses a profound challenge for every individual striving to safeguard their soul and middos, particularly for parents and educators committed to raising and guiding their children and students with Torah values.
This complex issue, which touches nearly every home in our generation, demands our focused attention—especially now, during these times of war, when the constant stream of distressing news, Heaven protect us, makes this matter even more pressing than in ordinary times. We must explore the Torah’s perspective on this challenge and determine how to educate ourselves and others to confront it effectively.
As with any other sugiyah requiring deep study, we must first identify its root and understand the nature of the deficiency and potential for harm—particularly when seeking guidance on how to educate and contend with it. The Alter of Kelm, commenting on the pasuk in Tehillim (92:12), “בקום עלי מרעים תשמענה אזני — When evildoers rise against me, my ears hear,” taught that when an evil force arises to cause us to stumble, we must first listen carefully to its message to understand how to counter it.
This issue of technology is multifaceted, and we propose here an additional perspective. Many assume the primary danger lies in the ease of accessing the most severe and destructive content, even up to the three cardinal sins, Heaven forbid. They believe that by guarding against such content, the problem is resolved.
However, upon deeper reflection, we see that this is not the root of the issue. While such access is indeed a significant stumbling block, it is only one consequence among many. The core corruption lies in the very act of using these technologies, even when not engaged with evil and destructive content. To protect ourselves and educate others, we must first gain a clear understanding of this challenge before exploring practical solutions.
The foundation of mussar lies in shaping our external actions, as Rav Yisroel Salanter teaches in Ohr Yisroel (Michtav 3): “This is a central aim of all our aspirations—to guard our external limbs from all evil and affliction, both in our middos and in fulfilling dinim, which can only be achieved through self-discipline and persistent practice.”
Rav Yisroel Salanter emphasizes that refining our middos is not primarily about internal resolutions but through the external limbs of the body. When a desire arises, its fulfillment typically requires significant physical effort, and restraining that desire involves using our limbs to prevent action. Through this process, we gain mastery over our desires and refine our middos; the limbs of the body assist in conquering the desire and correcting the middos.
However, when desires and middos can be expressed without significant physical effort, restraining them becomes exceedingly difficult. Our desires—both positive and negative—are far more powerful than we often realize, and without the barrier of physical action, they are nearly impossible to control.
Consider a mashal: A cyclist who pedals furiously to reach high speeds will stop when he realizes the danger to his life from the excessive speed, as the effort required to achieve that speed is significant. He will not readily repeat the action. In contrast, a car driver who speeds recklessly may be cautious for a short time after recognizing the danger, but he often reverts to his old habits. Why? The cyclist’s effort is a physical deterrent, while the driver’s minimal action—pressing lightly on the gas pedal—offers no such restraint.
Similarly, modern technological devices and search engines allow us to act on a wide range of middos with a mere tap or click. With a light keystroke, one can evoke any character trait, good or bad. This ease of access leaves our powerful desires unchecked, creating a dangerous and unnatural state that makes refining our middos extraordinarily challenging. We must give this matter serious thought and seek meaningful ways to address it.
Superficially, this perspective may seem marginal compared to the more obvious dangers of technology, but it warrants careful consideration. As we delve deeper, we begin to recognize that this fundamental issue profoundly impacts our entire life’s avoda.