Have you ever imagined a world where people are surrounded by others but still feel completely alone? If not all you have to do is just look around. You can see it everywhere, even at family dinners where the sole aim is to socialise, most of us are too immersed in our screens to have real conversation. Technology was meant to bring society closer together but this is not always the case.
We cannot deny that digital tools make communication easier. A message can cross countries within seconds and we can stay in touch with people we would otherwise lose contact with. This leads to many arguing that the digitalization of communication is one of the greatest things to happen and that we should not take it for granted.
On the other hand, what seems helpful at first can create new problems in the long run. While it may seem as though we have friends and followers online, in reality this does not account for real connections. Real friendships require trust, loyalty and shared experiences which are not things that can be built through a screen. As online interactions increase, teenagers in particular report feeling more isolated, nervous and less capable of sustaining real conversation.
All things considered, technology has the power to both improve and damage our social lives. It enables us to enrich the quantity, not the quality of social interactions and connections. Without proper precautions this can lead to a decrease in true meaningful relationships and the rise of shallow, surface level connections.