In many Mauritian homes today, it is like this: everyone is around the table, the briani is served, but everyone is looking at their screen. The father is on his phone, the mother on social networks, and the children are scrolling through TikTok or watching YouTube videos.
Technology is everywhere. And many people are wondering: how can we really stay together as a family, without screens taking up all the space?
Before, Things Were Different
Back then, everyone watched TV together. MBC, where Bollywood films and series were on every day. Everyone laughed and sang along. In the evening, it was a time for sharing, having fun and laughing together.
Today, it is a different world. Everywhere, digital technology is part of our lives. Even the youngest know how to scroll through TikTok like pros. Some grandparents, meanwhile, follow prayers and sermons on social media.
It is not just in Mauritius, it is the world we live in today.
What technology brings… and what it takes away
Technology? Yes, these gadgets are very useful in everyday life, and we cannot deny that. Families separated by distance can use their phones to make video calls, share photos, exchange messages and that is invaluable. Children learn from YouTube or apps.
But sometimes it also cuts off real communication. Families eat together, but everyone is in their own world. And then the arguments start: parents grumble about the amount of time they spend on screens, and children feel misunderstood.
Striking a Mauritian balance
There is no need to ban everything. It is just a question of organisation, with a few simple rules:
- No phones at the table during meals. It really helps to have more communication between parents and children.
- Do not leave the table until everyone has finished their meal.
- Grandparents often take the children and tell them typical Mauritian stories, such as ‘Le Chien Noir aux yeux rouges’, a legend passed down from generation to generation.
- Do family activities, such as making “gâteaux piments”, playing cards or going for a walk in the botanical gardens.
The bottom line
Technology is part of everyday life, and there is nothing we can do about it. But we can decide how we use it. In Mauritius, family is sacred. So even with Wi-Fi and smartphones, we can keep that warmth, those simple moments, that make us feel truly at home. And as we say in Mauritius “Dan enn lakaz kot dimoun koze, leker pa gagn traka”(In a house where people talk to each other, the heart has no worries).
