Читать книгу Overcoming Internet Addiction For Dummies - David N. Greenfield - Страница 88

The big question is this: How does Internet and screen technology affect human relationships and our overall health and well-being? From its early adoption, the Internet has been touted for its ability to connect people; initially social media was hailed as an important way to stay connected with our friends, family, work, and school. There is little argument that the Internet is a useful tool, and the COVID pandemic has offered further evidence of how amazing and useful this technology is. It has allowed us to continue our work and school from home and to shop and stay connected to our friends and loved ones. I am in no way debating the utility of this technology; what I am addressing is the quality of some of those activities and social connections made online.

There is little disagreement as to the mixed quality of online social connection and questionable satisfaction (and efficacy) of attending school online. Why is that? Why is it that social behavior online seems decidedly two-dimensional? Why has online schooling during COVID been seen as a failure? Why is online intimacy and social connection generally rated as inferior to real-time interaction? Even Zoom, which may be one of the heroes emerging from COVID, can leave people feeling hungry for more real-time, physical contact and connection. From the COVID experience, we see that our children, who have been schooled virtually, report increasing depression, social isolation, and dissatisfaction from the online academic experience — and some are experiencing other increased mental health issues as well.

These experiences aren’t a coincidence. They are reflections of some of the weaknesses of Internet interactions for social and academic communication. The Internet is best at connecting people with information and services, but it leaves people yearning for more depth and breadth when all is said and done. Perhaps it is best said that our expectations for a two-dimensional experience may be higher than what an Internet screen can deliver.