Feeling Alone in a Connected World
"}]}],"section_settings":" Advances in technology help us to stay connected to each other more than ever before. Technology devices that allow video calls, group chats, social media, listening to the radio, or following an online class have made our lives more convenient and accessible. We can readily connect with loved ones far away and see each other on screens from miles or oceans away. We can download navigation apps and use the Internet to search a multitude of informational or educational resources. So then, why are people feeling increasingly lonely in a time when we're most connected?
One reason might be that people focus their attention on their phones and other technology devices more than on other people. As a result, they isolate and create distance from others instead of interacting with the people around them. In addition, technology has changed social behavior. People have gotten accustomed to not genuinely being present when they are together. In other words, people can be with each other, but also elsewhere.
According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania, there was a specific connection between using less social media and improvements in loneliness and depression. "It is ironic, but perhaps not surprising, that reducing social media, which promised to help us connect with others, actually helps people feel less lonely and depressed." (as cited in, Nobell, 2018)
Social Media: Be aware of your use of social technology and the part it plays in your life. Evaluate the time you're spending on it and the reasons why you're using it. Evaluate how it is affecting your life: is it enhancing your life or enriching your well-being? Ask yourself if you're replacing other activities in your real life with the use of social technology. Other Social Activities: Consider performing other activities such as spending time with family and friends in face-to-face interaction, of course with safe distancing, and wearing a mask if necessary. Exercise: Consider engaging in exercise such as walking or jogging, or performing your favorite hobbies.
