The "Take a break from the internet!" Anthology Series
A collection of works explaining why you should reduce your time on the internet.
Social media can be considered the greatest double-edged sword we are dealing with in modern times. Having the ability to find information instantaneously while also keeping in contact with millions of people worldwide may have some perks. However, many of these perks come at the cost of losing out on individuality and autonomy, becoming addicted to parasocial relationships, and an overall more depressed and anxious society.
I wrote these posts at a time when I grew more concerned that people were spending far too much time online rather than being with loved ones and living their life.
I. Introduction and Infodemic
I provide some context as to why I started writing these posts, mostly in regards to how it felt that much of the messaging surrounding COVID made it seem that it would just get worse. I then explain a term called infodemic, explaining how the news inundates everyone with information which may create an exaggerated perception of global phenomenon such as COVID. The term came about when the original SARS-COV epidemic was occurring, and it explains how that scenario was overblown. It’s something that explains much of what we see going on with the media, but it also explains how social media including Substack can operate to possibly amplify stories that would otherwise be of no significance.
II. Living in a (Para)social World
At the time of this writing the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial was underway. It was a fascinating look into the current cultural climate and how judicial procedures are handled. More importantly, it provided a window into the phenomenon of parasocial relationships in which relationships generally exist in a unilateral manner. The inability to interact directly with idols creates strange dynamics that forego real relationships for ones fraught with fanaticism and vicarious living. Tom Hanks is given as an example of one of the first celebrities to contract COVID, and the media attention around a vulnerable, infected celebrity may have catapulted much of the COVID measures we saw during early 2020, highlighting how parasocial dynamics can have greater social ramifications.
It’s important to remember our relationship with technology and social media, and understand that when it comes down to it we should always choose direct, personal relationships over the ones we find online.
III. Burning out and Going Outdoors
As we find ourselves online to an even greater degree than we would have prior to the pandemic, we may find that online work and redundancy may weigh heavily on us and leave us wanting to move on or quit or current situation. This phenomenon of burning out continues to gain interest given the current modern lifestyle, and it explains how we may grow tired and weary of being in the same situation or overworking ourselves. Here, I provide some information on how burnout can affect our health and why we should understand where our limit is. I end the entire discussion with an explanation as to why we should go outdoors and spend less time online. Social media may be a boon for interactions, but we should remember that it serves as a simulacrum for the real relationships we can have with each other in the real world.
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