Technology and Loneliness

Since love transcends individuality, it can help overcome isolation and loneliness, both of which have negatively affect our health. From the surface, the source of the high rate of loneliness is unclear. In our modern technological world, it appears that we can more connected than ever before. In our overcrowded world with billions of people living in close connectivity with each other through electronic media, it seems paradoxical that the prevalence of loneliness has grown so high.

Image by Jhaymesisviphotography from Wikimedia Commons

Skyscrapers, prison cell-like living quarters, stressful mediocre jobs and impersonal city life do not encourage friendliness, let alone a sense of community. A city is simply a place where large groups of lonely people live together.

The ostensible connectedness that cellphones and devices alike offer is attenuated by the unexpected consequence of decreasing the desire to connect with others, contributing to loneliness and isolation overtime. Researchers have observed subjects using cellphones for a short period of time were less likely to volunteer for a community service activity when asked compared to a control group. In addition, the cellphone users were less determined in solving word problems, even when the amount of correct answers would be matched by a monetary donation to charity. This deflated focus on others persisted even when the cellphone users were requested to draw an image of a cellphone and think about using it. The researchers posit, “The cellphone directly evokes feelings of connectivity to others, thereby fulfilling the basic human need to belong.” The researchers suggest that this feeling results in a reduced desire to actually connect with others or to engage in empathetic and prosocial behavior (Abraham, Pocheptsova & Ferraro, 2019).
 
Loneliness also correlates with Internet use (Hu, 2009). Researchers observed that online chatting resulted in increased loneliness (Hu, 2007).
 
Jacob Needleman, professor of philosophy at San Francisco State University, suggests that the loneliness that we as a society are experiencing cuts people off, not just from each other, but also from some harmonizing force in themselves. Our society is lacking an essential harmonious relationship with some universal force (Needleman, 2014).
 
The absence of this essential harmonious relationship will not be filled by Facebook, Instagram, or any other social networking website.

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References

Abraham, Ajay & Pocheptsova, Anastasiya & Ferraro, Rosellina. (2019). The Effect of Mobile Phone Use on Prosocial Behavior.
 
Dossey, L. (2013). One Mind. Carlsbad: Hay House.
 
Hu, M (2007). Social Use of the Internet and Loneliness.
 
Hu, M. (2009). Will Online Chat Help Alleviate Mood Loneliness?. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12(2), 219-223. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2008.0134
 
Needleman, J. (2014). The heart of philosophy. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher.