Connectedness Is Different for Everyone
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links. The thoughts and ideas expressed may not be exactly what the ghostwriter Scott Sery believes. But he did read it, and signed off on it, so it’s at least pretty close.
It’s here, right now, the connected age. The era when we can connect with people from all across the world with nothing more than a click, or a thumbs up via the Internet. Where we can find our tribe online, even if we live in the smallest or remotest town. But does all this instant connection help us feel truly connected or is it just making us lonelier and more isolated? And are there better ways of using technology to create and foster meaningful connections online? Let’s explore.
Loneliness in the age of the internet
With almost everyone online, you may be under the impression that the Internet only brings people together and so is acting to lessen loneliness. However, internet usage patterns suggest that this is not the case.
Indeed, one study found that middle-aged and older adults who used the internet more were significantly more lonely than those who used it less. With such results being backed up by meta-studies like this one, it seems that a tool that has the potential to bring us together is reinforcing loneliness and isolation in many people.
Why is the internet making us lonely?
This is a tough one, but several factors could be underlying the loneliness epidemic caused by the internet. The first is that when people invest more time in online relationships, they have less time and energy for real-life ones.
There is also perhaps a difference in the quality of online connection and communication with the sharing of memes, or a like or emoji replacing more in-depth connections such as phone calls, video chats and IRL conversations.
Also, it’s worth remembering that loneliness is subjective, and those who are extroverted by nature are much more likely to feel lonely when relying solely on online communication than those who are introverted.
Better ways of connecting online & off
This is not to say that all online communication is bad; that is simply not the case. Instead, if you feel you are impacted by this wave of loneliness it’s important to note that there are some better ways of communicating with others both in real life and online such as:
Video & phone calls
In the battle of Texting vs Calling, calling has to be the winner when it comes to genuine connection and quality. Things are probably a bit different now and scheduling a time to call a friend or loved one can help avoid the common ‘gone to voicemail’ phenomenon.
Arrange an IRL meetup
Yes, putting your phone down (or at least in your pocket) is a good idea, and getting out and talking to real people – even shop assistants, baristas, and bus drivers – can instantly break the reverie of loneliness.
Even better, arrange a real-life get-together with friends or loved ones over a nice meal, while walking around a gallery, or enjoying the sunshine in the park.
Gaming
A combination of using video and voice chat to do a shared activity online gaming can be a great way of not only connecting with current friends but making new ones as well. After all, what builds up relationships faster than working in a team to defeat a shared foe, and chatting about it while you do it?
We are living in a digital age where many of our connections at least start online. Being aware of how our brains function, and what the online world does to our mental health is imperative to not just surviving the internet age, but thriving in it.
Where do you fall? How are you navigating the age of connected isolation?