Have you ever been sitting right next to someone, but they’re so engrossed in their phone you couldn’t feel further apart ?
We are a society that’s constantly distracted by my mobile phones, take a daily train commute to work and you’re likely to be met by a sea of zombie-like humans all zoned out on their mobile phones, unaware of the world around them.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter command our attention and keep us glued to apps.
Social media has completely changed the way we interact with each other, becoming part of our everyday lives.
Whilst social media platforms allow us to reach, engage with those that we can’t physically, the truth is it cannot take away from the power and effect of face-to-face contact.
When wanting to connect with loved ones, family members, friends, nothing beats sitting down with someone and talking to them. You feel present and listened to and creates an environment which allows bonds to be built in a way that the virtual world is void of.
Whilst social media connects billions of people around the world, it’s obvious, it also creates a false sense of feeling connected, disconnecting us from reality itself and creating unattainable standards many struggle to achieve.
So is it possible then that our highly-connected world is leaving us feeling disconnected?
For a platform that aims to connect people, ironically it has the opposite effect.
Excessive use of social media has been linked to poor mental health, higher levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression, enhancing insecurities, envy, narcissism and decreased social skills. Research by Global WebIndex shows 58.4% of the world’s population, a staggering 4.62 billion people now use social media, with a average daily usage of two hours 27 minutes.
But if these platforms leave us feeling so bad, why are so many of us using it ?
If we spend less time fixated on virtual connections and more time focused on physical surroundings, engaging with those that matter, our bonds can only strengthen.
Instead of nurturing virtual friends, embrace your real ones. Life is better when present in memorable moments rather than watching them happen.
