Internet Obsession

Social Media Absentees

Let me start out by saying that I am not against Internet platform. It is one of the most powerful medium to get across your opinion and bring together people with common purpose. Many of the recent revolution’s success are attributed to this medium.

But now, most of it is just noise, noises from inane and nonessential information which compete against our blink time. The explosion of information on the internet had given us the opportunity to be entertained round the clock. That in turn has taken over most of us with a need to be entertained all the time. This need has seeped so deeply, that now we don’t know any other way of living. We get too bored too quickly. Social encounters are a little more awkward than they used to be. Clicking the like button on that picture looks much easier than complimenting in person. Our Updates or our ideas need to be validated by the audience we hardly know. While all of this is a boon for an introvert, it has trudged many extroverts into extinction.

It is a kind of an addiction and you transfer it by setting a behavioral example. Passing a message that it is ok to be engrossed in your phone, while having family dinner, waiting for order to be placed in restaurant or waiting for traffic light to be green. And like a hereditary disease, this addiction passes on to our kids. We introduce them to Ipads or laptops at an early age to keep them engaged, so they don’t crib much while eating or fuss while taking a bath. We are exposing them to hyper engagement tool, making them addicted right from the start. I think the problem is not that we are addicted, It’s that we don’t care we are addicted. There is no visible proof of how it affects us. It just subtly creates a generation of emotionally disconnected people who have alienated their social life.

So to all the social media absentees, be proud. We know you are still out there, taking a controlled dose of all the information on this internet. Still using this for the purpose it was initially meant for, but fiercely defending your personal and social life against it.

Note: No kids or family was ignored while writing this article.