A few months ago, I was scrolling through my TikTok For You Page (FYP), consuming content from one of my absolute favorite creators of all time – Maalvika Bhat, otherwise known as @Maaltoks on the app.
In the video, she referenced tweets about how, just a decade ago, the internet was a physical place – a designated space wherein people completed school or work-related tasks and consumed content for a certain amount of time time within their day – but now that is far from the case. This resonated with me immensely, as just in the past week alone, I can recount dozens of times when I thought to myself, “How do I escape the internet?”
It’s validating to know that I am not alone in this sentiment. Whether it be calling, texting, checking Instagram stories, using Google Maps for directions, or ordering essential items on Amazon or Doordash, our phones have inevitably become staples of our lives.
While technological innovations throughout the past few decades have advanced society immensely, the increased dependence people have on such technology has become excessive, raising concerns regarding mental health, physical health, and broader social outcomes.
According to recent data, the average person worldwide spends an average of 6 hours and 40 minutes on their phones. In America specifically, the average is about 7 hours and 4 minutes. For the sake of more accurately picturing this, consider this contextualization: Americans spend about 18 years of their adult lives online, according to a recent report. The staggering figure is largely composed of social media consumption.
In tandem with this trend, social interaction has also steadily decreased in recent years, with social scientists, researchers, and public health officials rendering our current social climate the “loneliness era.” On average, Americans spend just two hours and 45 minutes a week socializing with friends, meaning they spend significantly more time with their technological devices than with other people.
In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness and social isolation epidemic, warning about the dangers of loneliness and the vast implications it has on physical, mental, and societal health writ large. Specifically, he noted its impact on rising anxiety and depression, as well as increased risk for heart disease, dementia, and premature death.
While this declining trend in socialization has been steady for years now, it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Being unable to see others in person for months and not seeing their faces for more thereafter certainly had negative effects on the general populace. Rates of anxiety and depression have increased at historic rates, especially among American youth.
Also unhelpful in resolving this issue is the lack of “third spaces,” or places wherein people could go to socialize with others outside of school or work, which – in this context – are “first spaces” and “second spaces.”
This includes spaces such as cultural and community centers, as well as religious institutions, which have seen a continued decrease in attendance and involvement.
This trajectory is an unsustainable one if we want to live in a prosperous society and foster strong foundations for future generations. Thus, it is incumbent upon each and every one of us in our global community to promote socialization and safe spaces where all feel comfortable and welcome. Furthermore, it is crucial to inform others about the severe ramifications of over-reliance on technology, encouraging each other to limit our usage. If people form coalitions and commit to this, others will more than likely follow suit.
Needless to say, we all have a lot to gain by simply “touching grass” once in a while.
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