anti-social media

In 2023, the media is oversaturated with almost propaganda-like articles, most-likely written by millennials or older generations, tirading our generation about how “phones and social media are destroying our minds”. A not-so-subtle common theme pertains to how technology is making teens and young adults depressed, socially awkward media addicts bound for a disappointing future. The fear mongering amongst those pieces does very little to deter young people, but certainly does strike fear and worry in older generations.

One could simply chalk this down to a bunch of silly old folks scared of what they don’t understand! However, a deeper glance might reveal startling truths. ;

I must disclaim that I am not anti-technology. I have prolonged periods where I’ll consume social media excessively to prevent a thought from occurring— a favoured pastime amongst people my age.

Last year, Headspace revealed data claiming that over 50% of young people believe their mental health is deteriorating, with 42% suggesting social media to be the main reason. There are also countless Pubmed articles and studies to support claims of this nature.

The perceived impact that social media and phone usage has on mental health connects with my main question, are we at risk of losing communication skills and face to face conversation?

Mental health plays a very important role in the way we communicate with others as it impacts our view of self both independently, and in relation to our surroundings. Technology and media has impacted the art of conversation limiting our need to do such an activity. Why would we talk to the person next to us in line or waiting for a bus when we have our phone to distract us? Why would we need to ask for directions when we have Google Maps? Why would we ask people for restaurant or book or movie or makeup recommendations when we can search it up online? Even in University settings, conversations can easily be replaced with emails. Face to face tutorials, which are the perfect setting for communication between peers, can be replaced with online ones, and some are even becoming non-compulsory.

This isolation likely would make people who feel socially anxious, shy or even introverted rejoice, and avoidance of conversing with others would only enlarge the fear long-term. My hypothesis is:

I believe as young, conscious students we must unite to revive face to face interactions and enjoy the many benefits it offers: perception of body language, relationship building, heightened emotional awareness, engagement in the method of communication and delivery.

Evolutionarily speaking, humans are inherently social beings, as it was counted on for our survival. Social media is not a replacement for day-to-day social interaction. Social media gives us the illusion of connection while, perhaps ironically, doing the opposite. While I am extremely grateful for being part of the generation I was raised in, part of me feels envious of older generations that seem more at ease in face-to-face conversations Their concern for our futures with the rapidly developing technology and ever-growingconsump tion of social media is valid, seeing as what once were streets filled with communication amongs neighbours, now fall silent as we are more concerned with our phone screens; either actually engaged with what’s in front of us, or pretending to be, to calm social anxieties and not make us look out of place.

Now I know the rebuttal to this is “well it’s not so simple as to not look at my phone in public” — but why can’t it be? If enough of us persevere through the discomfort, we could

So, ironically, the takeaway of this article is quite literally that over social media consumption is damaging our communication skills. Put your phone away, and go touch grass.