Hello there!
Today, I will be blogging about Social Isolation occurring through social (or perhaps, not so social) media addiction. Many of us praise social networks for helping our social interaction. But is this actually some kind of distorted illusion?
The Breakdown of Communication:
I’ve noticed we seem to live under the deception that virtual interactivity makes us social. Yet, in reality, this isn’t always the case. Think about it. Have you ever seen or been sat with people who are all together, but are divided by their screens? I know I have. It’s because they’re too busy posting their latest update, sharing a photo or even messaging the friends they’re sat with (as crazy as it sounds). We’re becoming so immersed in our social media that it’s contributing to a ‘communication breakdown’. Professor and psychologist Sherry Turkle interestingly claims that:
“We’re getting used to a new way of being alone together… designing technologies that will give us the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship”
Social Isolation:
On an even worse note, social media addiction and this ‘communication breakdown’ can even lure us into social isolation. Scary, I know. And yes…it is as bad as it sounds. Social Isolation occurs by “being online too much” where people “experience a sense of isolation if they feel that others around them are enjoying themselves much more” (grahamjones.co.uk article). By viewing things that other people post online about their lives, it makes us compare and often re-evaluate ourselves more negatively. This could give a sense of loneliness. I’ll be honest, there’s been times where I’ve seen how happy and exciting some of my friend’s lives are, lowering my self- esteem. Can you relate to this?
With many of us using social networking sites so regularly to the point of addiction, we are highly susceptible to this problem. It’s definitely worth being aware of! When social isolation occurs, it can send people into a downward spiral, isolating them from society. It also affects health, both physically and mentally (e.g. symptoms of depression).
I think it’s easy to see the link between social media addiction and social isolation.
Yet, some people think social media could actually be the answer to social isolation. Some people who struggle to socially interact think it can help them to make friends easier and connect more. But one particular study draws attention to how those who already feel lonely, often make their situations/ mental health worse by depending on social media for better interaction. This shows that the more we use the internet and social media, the more intense social isolation becomes. It won’t cure the problem if it’s contributing towards it.
Social Isolation Symptoms:
- Depression, shame or low self-worth
- Avoiding social interaction for extensive periods of time
- Social anxiety
See Goodtherapy.com for more detail.
Social media addiction doesn’t seem all that serious, I know. But, it’s important for us to be aware of these possible effects. If we don’t change our social networking habits, it could happen to any one of us, myself included. Things like this show we should live in reality and enjoy life offline.
I hope this has made you more aware of the impact of social media addiction. I know this research has opened my eyes! However, this is just one area of concern. Keep updated with my blogs as I continue to raise awareness of other serious issues connected with social media addiction.
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