Is it time to be social again?
Is it time to be social again?
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Social media over promises connection and under delivers almost every time. Studies have found positive correlations between social media use and increased feelings of loneliness. According to The Cost of Loneliness Project, 1 in 3 Americans over age 45 is chronically lonely.
What is scary is that loneliness can be as detrimental to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It can even increase our chances of premature death. The US Surgeon General has referred to loneliness in America as an epidemic.
None of this should come as much of a surprise since we have been slowly scrubbing away connection and replaced it with convenience. Instead of social gatherings we now have social media. Instead of trips to the movies, we sit alone in our houses and binge watch. We no longer go to the store, instead everything is shipped to our front door. Even places of higher education are becoming increasingly online.
We are now even replacing call center workers with chat bots. We have stopped attending churches, less people opt for marriage, we work remotely.
I think it is safe to say that life has never been more convenient in the history of mankind than it is today, but in many ways it has never been less connected.
And we need connection! Connection isn’t simply a novel idea, it is essential to our health and happiness. If you are feeling lonely, perhaps it is time to start being social again. Join a club, attend a church, reconnect with old friends, be present and engaged with family, volunteer with a non-profit. Immerse yourself with opportunities to be social and connect with people around you.
The cost of being lonely is too high. We need to learn how to be social again.
All the best,
Matthew.
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