5 Ways Technology Has Changed the Holidays

Posted December 24, 2019

While the holidays still capture our hearts and imaginations as they always have, it’s impossible to ignore the ways that technology has changed old traditions and sparked new ones. From family visits to Christmas shopping, it’s a much different world than the one portrayed in Miracle on 34th Street. Let’s look at 5 ways that technology has changed the way we see celebrations.

You don’t have to be home to feel at home. With advances in video-conferencing, families that have to be physically apart for the holidays can still enjoy each other’s company. Skype, G-Chat, and FaceTime make it easy to join in for Christmas dinner or gift unwrapping, even when loved ones are serving overseas or stuck across the country.
Gift shopping isn’t the same burden it used to be. While it’s true that this is the season of giving, few people found the hustle and bustle of holiday retail as pleasant as the rest of our favorite traditions. With online shopping, there’s no need to stand in line or cross your fingers that the Tickle Me Elmo hasn’t sold out yet. Amazon, eBay, and innumerable other online retailers make splurging on friends and family much less stressful.
Grandma’s recipes get an upgrade. With access to a plethora of recipes from around the world, amateur and professional cooks alike can make delicious, soul-warming meals to share. You never have to worry about Cousin Thomas “just winging it” while making macaroni and cheese. It’s easy to send him a handy recipe that will be a big hit at your family’s potluck.
Christmas caroling can be done from the comfort of your living room. With social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram, it’s easy to share videos of you belting out your special rendition of Santa Baby, without the need for heavy coats and winter gloves for a trek through the neighborhood. Your neighbors will be grateful and your followers will be entertained. It’s a win-win!
Tech makes the holidays even more magical for the little ones. If you’ve got kids who are restlessly waiting for Santa to make his descent on your rooftop, Google’s Santa Tracker and Village is a delightful way to keep them up-to-date on the jolly old elf’s latest position. While they’re waiting, your children can also play games, take a selfie with Santa, or learn basic coding from a reindeer. Oh, what fun!

Sometimes, our constant connection can feel overwhelming. With all of the negative, though, there is so much positive! The changes that technology has made in our lives is most evident around this time of year, when modern conveniences give us more time to spend with those we love.

We’ll see you in the New Year!

Kyle Vinar

Kyle Vinar is Partner / President of Verus Corporation. He oversees all business operations and coaches Verus teams to continually improve on their solutions from client experience to product development and overall solution implementation. He works with all Verus resources to increase efficiencies and excellence in every aspect of their organizational roles. Kyle believes that people are the last real competitive edge that a company can have and constructing a rich culture is a vital step in running a world-class organization. Therefore he strives to create a culture within Verus that allows everyone to show up authentically and grow both personally and professionally, which in turn allows Verus Corp team members to provide clients with top-of-the-line service. Kyle helps balance strategy, capacity, and culture in such a way that has allowed Verus Corp to achieve exponential growth since he joined the company in 2013. One of Kyle’s greatest professional achievements has been in helping lay the foundation upon which Verus Corporation could be named the 2nd Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. Cloud State University. He lives in Champlin with his wife and 3 children. He has enjoyed volunteering as a soccer coach for over 6 years and was the former Director of Coaching for Rebels Soccer Club. If Kyle isn’t on the sidelines of one of his children’s soccer games or in the audience of his eldest’s musicals, he can often be found cruising scenic routes on his Harley, in a deer stand, or on the golf course.