The Disconnect: How Social Media Is Making Us Anti-Social
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Disconnect: How Social Media Is Making Us Anti-Social

38532
The Disconnect: How Social Media Is Making Us Anti-Social
BizComBuzz

Take a look around you. Most likely, the majority of people you see are bent forward towards the glow of their phones and tablets. Maybe they look up occasionally so they don’t stumble and fall on the sidewalk, or periodically to check the time, but whatever is streaming on their digital screens is absorbing them in some sort of hypnotic trance. Gone are the days when families actually spoke around the dinner table. Today, restaurants are full of people more interested in the pixels on their electronic devices than those around them. Kids are watching TV episodes, parents are scrolling through emails, and even waiters are texting during a free moment between orders. I’ve even seen a couple sitting across from each other, where both people were playing separate video games on their iPhones. Maybe the date went sour, I don’t know, but was as if they couldn’t be further apart even though they were physically so close together.

How did we get to a place where the content on our phones is more interesting than the world around us? In today’s society, scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram has taken precedence over the real events scrolling through our daily lives. In just a few decades, we’ve gone from corded phones attached to the wall to smart phones that contain the entirety of the Internet in our very pockets. There’s no predicting where we’ll be in another ten years, but for the time being, we are becoming more and more immersed in a digital network that is webbed into every aspect of our daily lives.

Social media has become our primary form of communication. It’s easier and more convenient to look someone up on Facebook than physically stay in touch with him or her or calling on the phone. Facebook has replaced this need to catch up with old friends or meet up for coffee, because their entire life stories are literally posted in front of our faces, to the point where it becomes hard to miss. But isn’t that what social media is all about: staying in touch with people, and sharing images with friends without having to actually go out of our way?

Yet, as we become more socially connected with the rest of the world, we are becoming more disconnected from each other. We are losing sight of the little things around us, because we’re so focused on the latest YouTube video, or Buzz Feed article on our phones. I’m not saying that we should stop watching or reading, but we should recognize the fact that what we are doing is changing the way we interact and communicate with our family and friends. What if we’re telling our grandchildren (via text message, or whatever the equivalent is in the future), about what verbal communication used to be like? The reality is that there’s no way of knowing where our generation is going in terms of technology and our reliance on it.

However despite these very serious fears, none of us can criticize technology or social media outright. We have the option to log off and unplug anytime we want, so it’s up to us to decide if we want to engage with the actual world or the virtual one. Technology is a societal advancement that has enabled our generation to do things previous generations never would have thought possible. With Internet access spreading throughout the globe, it has never been easier to work, research, communicate, and connect with people everywhere right from our fingertips. So it’s not the technology that’s the problem; it’s us for abusing it. We’ve become antisocial by relying on technology too heavily.

So the next time you’re out with friends, or walking down the street, try to refrain from scrolling through your News Feed. Make the effort to socialize with the world around you, and become more familiar with people rather than profiles. Maybe if we look up and away from the flashing images and colors on our most recent Safari search, we will actually enjoy the company of those around us. So instead of counting the number of likes, count the memories in your life, because at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

94759
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments