It’s no secret that technology has taken over our lives in the last few years, with smartphones, smart-homes and computers that do everything from logging onto social media to our cars being equipped with computerized features. But does technology make us more alone or does it actually bring us closer? The amount of time we spend on social media has steadily increased over the years, leaving some people more connected than ever before while others feel more isolated and lonelier than ever before.
Does technology make us more alone? That’s an interesting question, but one that might seem like an awkward topic to discuss with your friends and family at the dinner table. Yet as we continue to see new innovations in the world of technology, such as automated robots, voice-controlled personal assistants and driverless cars, it seems to beg the question if technology makes us more alone? In this article, we will cover three different points of view on the subject of whether or not technology makes us more alone?
Has Technology Made Our Lives More Lonely?
You are probably wondering what has caused this change in our society, and there are a few different reasons. The Internet is really distracting to a lot of people and since it is so accessible, they use it all the time. They may be multi-tasking by looking up recipes while having an on line conversation or checking email during dinner. If we always have our phone or computer on hand, we’re less likely to be available for others in our personal lives. Furthermore, there is this phenomenon called FOMO, which means Fear Of Missing Out. People who experience this tend to check their social media accounts constantly because they feel like if they don’t then someone else will post something about them that could outshine them. Not only does this create a lack of privacy, but it also leaves many feelings lonely and unimportant because no one seems to care about them as much as their account does.
The solution? Put your phone down every once in a while! Spend some quality time with friends instead of watching YouTube videos or updating your Instagram feed. Take advantage of being together in person by laughing and being present with one another!
Social media can help you meet people
Twitter and Instagram can be great ways to meet new people. If you want a social media account for meeting people, but don’t know which one to choose, try creating a Twitter account to get started. You’ll have access to over 300 million tweets every day and can easily send messages or talk in the chat box using the @ sign. This can give you instant responses from any of your followers!
Another great place for meeting people online is Reddit. Check out subreddits on topics that interest you and subscribe to conversations happening about them by clicking on the subscribe button on the top right-hand side of the screen. You can then filter through all posts by clicking on ‘My Subreddits’ in the left-hand column, then click on ‘Unread’.
Start chatting with other people who share similar interests as you by following some of these steps: scroll down to find an interesting subreddit; look at posts by other users (you might need to register first); if there are users who post frequently that you like, click their username and follow them; then check back regularly for new posts.
The world isn’t as bad as you think
Technology has been an intricate part of society and will continue to be. The future is in your hands. Decide what kind of world you want to live in and start working towards it. While technology may make it easier for people to be connected, they can also become disconnected from their surroundings while surfing the internet on their phone instead of talking with someone face-to-face or meeting up with friends in person. By prioritizing our time and keeping a balance between online and offline social interactions, we can overcome the issue that so many are facing when it comes to spending too much time online . Keeping communication open is key to any healthy relationship, whether it’s romantic or platonic. It doesn’t matter if you have access to all the latest technology or not: Having open communication with others builds trust and allows for everyone involved to feel heard and understood. We should use this power wisely!
We are social animals
In recent years, it seems as if the world has shrunk due to the rise of social media and other methods of digital connection. We now have access to nearly everyone in our life, at all times, anywhere. We can easily spend hours a day texting friends and following up with family members who are on the other side of the world. Does this increase in connectivity really just leave us feeling more alone? Studies show that people with high levels of social support in their lives report higher levels of well-being than those without as much social support. People with low levels of social support may feel disconnected from others and be less satisfied with their lives overall. Social isolation is associated with poorer physical health outcomes such as inflammation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Further research finds that loneliness poses an even greater risk for psychological distress when combined with feelings of low self-esteem or depression. It’s easy to see how online interactions could replace real ones over time: If you rely on your computer or phone for companionship instead of turning towards someone in person, it’s likely you will experience some degree of emotional emptiness or depression when no one is there to listen or understand you.
Relying on technology can be dangerous in emergencies
We need to recognize the dangers of our reliance on technology. First, when there is an emergency, it could be difficult to communicate since much of the communication infrastructure relies on power and access. Furthermore, when we turn away from face-to-face interactions with people in our day-to-day lives for long periods of time, we are potentially reducing our social skills or empathy. These are skills that are important for not only our day-to-day lives but also in emergencies. Secondly, relying too heavily on mobile devices can lead to isolation. Social media can provide a lot of benefits if used appropriately and even keep individuals connected during disasters. However, if used excessively it may actually decrease one’s ability to connect with others in person. Social media can also decrease empathy because it often revolves around events happening elsewhere rather than what is happening in person. Technology should not replace personal connections between people; instead it should supplement them.
New tech helps solve old problems
Some would argue that technology has helped create even greater challenges in relationships because it can create barriers between those who might not be geographically close. While this is certainly true to some extent, many advancements in tech can also help to bridge gaps and strengthen relationships in ways that never were possible before. For example, the wide availability of social media platforms like Facebook allow people from all over the world to keep up with their friends and family, and then also have conversations about any topic imaginable.
The availability of these tools is especially helpful for those who live in distant locations without friends or family nearby. With social media, people living in a different country are still able to share life events with their loved ones back home, and vice versa. Likewise, with modern video conferencing software such as Skype, there are no longer any distance limits on how long a person can stay connected to loved ones.
The modern office is no longer a brick-and-mortar building where everyone must commute at least once a day but rather an internet connection where people work remotely across continents while interacting as if they were sitting next to each other. With new innovations in the way we communicate through text messages and chat windows online, some could say that we are becoming less lonely despite having fewer face-to-face interactions than ever before.
Conclusion
Despite its downsides, a lot of people use social media to maintain connections. People tend to think they are somehow gaining friends through their device while they are at home, but that is often not the case. Sure, it’s great to connect with people who live far away or who don’t have time for real life meetings, but it still doesn’t replace those IRL interactions. A study found that satisfaction with an individual’s close relationships tended to decrease as he or she used more social media because people feel less in control and personal connection when they rely on devices instead of direct interactions. For example, feelings of jealousy and envy were heightened if content posted was done so to get attention or likes from strangers.
