How Social Media Is Destroying Society

Start searching for something, and once you do, you'll notice it everywhere you go. Have you ever entered a restaurant and seen a whole table of friends on their phones? Or a group of people on the street? Even your own family, each absorbed in their own world, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. If most human interaction is non-verbal, what happens when you strip away everything else, leaving only that small fraction? This is the experiment we find ourselves in today.

When I was growing up, there were no cell phones, and computers were not as advanced as they are now. It was a unique time for me because half of my childhood was spent without the major technology that dominates our lives today, while the other half was swiftly integrated into the new age of technology. During the earlier part of my childhood, human interaction seemed different. If you wanted to talk to someone, you had to physically seek them out and spend uninterrupted time with them in the same room.

When you were fully present, your attention wasn't divided by the fear of missing out on the vast amount of shared information. This level of presence in daily interactions created a depth that seems to be diminishing as technology advances. The core issue is simple: there's a significant mismatch between the rapid progress of technology and our ability to adapt to it. While technology advances exponentially, we are still grappling with understanding its impact on us due to the accelerating rate of technological advancement.

When teaching algorithms to predict and modulate behavior, it's undeniable that social media and instant communication are highly addictive. This addiction shares symptoms with substance abuse, but what remains unknown is how it alters not just our behaviors, by hijacking our brain's reward centers, but also our perception of reality. Initially, our in-person interactions outweighed online ones, shaping how we viewed technological interactions. However, with the increasing number of online connections, we have gradually replaced most of our interactions with digital ones.

We now tend to perceive our face-to-face interactions through a digital filter. An excellent illustration of this trend can be seen in the increasingly polarized political discourse of today. We are already witnessing signs of a simplistic view of human interaction, which is cause for concern. It is unsettling to consider that the digital presence of the next generation may surpass their in-person presence in importance. How can we prevent this shift? Is the solution to shut everything down and unplug from big tech? I believe that is not the answer. We have unleashed a complex situation, and this is the reality we must confront. So, what is the way forward? The initial step is to raise awareness. Much of classical conditioning, which may bring Pavlov's dogs to mind, operates on the subconscious processes of the brain. Becoming aware of how this conditioning influences you grants a level of control over your behavior. Additionally, it is crucial to strike a balance between in-person and digital interaction.

Ensure that your primary lens for engaging with the world encompasses the full spectrum of human communication, including body language, emotions, facial expressions, and subtle nuances in tonality. This innate ability forms the basis of our identity and community, offering a wholesome perspective of others and the world around us. By preserving this balance, we can develop a healthier relationship with our online presence and maintain control over the impact of digital platforms and technologies. These algorithms are rooted in human behavior, which we have the power to influence. Take small steps today, such as uninstalling certain social media platforms from your phone, prompting you to log in from a computer, thus reducing the convenience factor. If your phone is essential for work, allocate quality time with loved ones and switch off your phone completely to be fully present. This conscious shift may reveal a less tumultuous world and the beauty in the life right in front of you.