Written by Ashlyn Sorrells

Graphic by Mikayla Buneta

Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, once said, “Facebook was not originally created to be a company, it was built to accomplish a social mission — to make the world more open and connected.” This nearly 12-year-old quote has not aged gracefully. While an argument can be made that not only Facebook, but social media in general, has allowed more “openness” and “connectivity,” are we truly connected?

 Most of us in our twenties grew up with some type of digital device. A tablet, an iPod Touch, or a smartphone enabled us to communicate with others at any time and in any place. This revolutionary communication shift sounded wonderful to those who first heard about it. We were able to talk to our family and friends without being near a corded phone or computer. Then, as though we never thought this new innovation could further advance, the age of social media began.  

From 2003 to 2016, platforms such as Myspace, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, and eventually TikTok, emerged and began to slowly alter the way individuals used their phones. Rather than solely relying on the device to text and call family and friends, they were now using them to post online for numerous people.

This all seemed lighthearted and friendly at the beginning. The idea of being able to share small details about your day or photos of a past memory seemed harmless; however, this increasingly became the cause of unhappiness and comparison among many users. Between 2005 and 2017, depression among adolescents reportedly went up 52%. Even though we could write this off as a coincidence, researchers have overwhelmingly found multiple links between high social media usage and depression and anxiety. 

Not only are people who habitually use social media platforms frequently more susceptible to a decrease in mental wellbeing, they are also spending more time in solitude. 

“When technology takes the place of in-person relationships, it has been found to increase loneliness and disconnection,” said Jasmin Tahmaseb-McConatha, a professor at West Chester University. 

Many of us no longer feel the need to meet in person with peers, friends, or even family due to the convenience mobile devices offer us. Along with this, activities such as watching shows and movies with others when played on cable TV or released in movie theaters have been replaced with streaming services. When we have the ability to watch the newest movie release alone at home, it deters us from even considering paying to go to the movies with friends. Grocery pick-up and delivery options strip us from the social interaction we would normally have at the store. The same goes for food delivery services; rather than getting a bite to eat with a family member, we are eating alone at home, out of a styrofoam container. 

All of these services are wonderful in moderation, and do come in handy for many people who are too busy to grocery shop or cook meals for themselves. These options are vital for people with disabilities or impairments, as well as people working inconvenient hours. However, we have moved past simply choosing these options when necessary and now rely on them purely for convenience. We have unintentionally robbed ourselves from many opportunities for face-to-face interaction, which may lead to feelings of loneliness and solitude. 

In a time where we all feel more divided than ever, I think we are due to make some changes in our social routine. Invite your friends to get coffee or go for a walk rather than having only text conversations with them. Have dinner with your family members, even those who you rarely see outside of holidays, instead of relying on Facebook to keep you up-to-date on their lives. Doing things you would normally do alone at home with other people or in public places will allow you to connect with a world outside of social media. While using social media and online services in limitation is harmless, prioritizing in-person social connection over online connection will allow us to feel more happy, healthy, and connected with the world around us.