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posted by martyb on Friday June 19 2020, @09:43AM   Printer-friendly
from the only-the-lonely-can-play-♫♫ dept.

Tech and social media are making us feel lonelier than ever:

You've had a social day. Two hundred Facebook friends posted birthday messages, your video of Mr. Meow shredding the toilet paper stash got dozens of retweets, and all the compliments on your latest Instagram selfie have you strutting with an extra swagger. Still, you can't help but notice an ache that can only be described as loneliness.

That we feel this way even when hyperconnected might seem like a contradiction. But the facts are clear: Constant virtual connections can often amplify the feeling of loneliness.

"Internet-related technologies are great at giving us the perception of connectedness," says Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, a Stanford University psychiatrist who's written about the intersection of psychology and tech. The truth, he says, is the time and energy spent on social media's countless connections may be happening at the expense of more rooted, genuinely supportive and truly close relationships.

If virtual socializing cannot substitute for the real thing, will social media prove out to be nothing more than a fad of the late 20th and early 21st centuries?


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 20 2020, @01:58AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 20 2020, @01:58AM (#1010220)

    In the total of 20-something minutes of the two clips, I didn't feel alone or depressed, just... mind-blown.

    Right. you were engaged and receiving a variety of stimuli from the music and its discussion. Often a positive, enjoyable and sometimes even useful experience.

    However, physical, interactive human interactions while similar, as they also provide a variety of stimuli, are far richer and more satisfying than passively viewing the actions and interactions of others.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by c0lo on Saturday June 20 2020, @02:32AM (2 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday June 20 2020, @02:32AM (#1010229) Journal

    However, physical, interactive human interactions while similar, as they also provide a variety of stimuli, are may be far richer and more satisfying than passively viewing watching the actions and interactions of others. But, again, depending on circumstances, it may be not

    As I enjoy making things, that watching is far from passive.
    As I don't have friends in woodworking, interacting with the wood in an increasing skillful manner becomes more important that interacting with friends who observe social distancing (as do I, can't afford to get infected while caring for parents over 80yo).

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 20 2020, @02:56AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 20 2020, @02:56AM (#1010239)

      As I enjoy making things, that watching is far from passive.
      As I don't have friends in woodworking, interacting with the wood in an increasing skillful manner becomes more important that interacting with friends who observe social distancing (as do I, can't afford to get infected while caring for parents over 80yo).

      You completely misunderstand me.

      I'm not claiming that folks shouldn't be social distancing at this time. I rigorously practice it myself.

      All I said was that, as a rule, interactive physical interaction provides a richer experience than virtual ones, especially passive ones (like the youtube videos you linked).

      That folks are strongly discouraged from those physical interactions right now, doesn't mean the lack of same isn't negatively impacting (loneliness, depression, etc.) people. We are, after all, a social species.

      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday June 20 2020, @04:10AM

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday June 20 2020, @04:10AM (#1010263) Journal

        All I said was that, as a rule, interactive physical interaction provides a richer experience than virtual ones, especially passive ones (like the youtube videos you linked).

        And I said that's a rather weak rule which depends on lots of factors, and my reactions to the youtube I linked are anything but passive.
        I'd somewhat agree if you were contrasting with non-interactive experiences, but the term of passive brings a too high meaning of non-participation. E.g. I can not describe reading a book as passive.

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford