In many ways, we are more connected than ever.
Social media helps us stay in touch with friends and family who live far away. It allows us to share our thoughts and ideas with a wide audience, and it provides opportunities for collaboration and community building.
We can learn new things, meet new people, and stay up-to-date on the latest news, trends, and topics with social media.
But it might not always be the most helpful tool. Social media can destroy our friendships and fragment our communities. Consider the following four reasons why social media is destroying our friendships.
Unhealthy Comparison and Envy
When we see friends and strangers posting about their seemingly perfect lives on social media, it can make us feel inadequate and resentful. We may start to compare our own lives to theirs, which can lead to feelings of jealousy or bitterness.
Social media can easily create unrealistic expectations. When you only see the highlight reels of someone’s life, it can be easy to forget that everyone has their struggles and challenges. You may start to believe that everyone else has a better life than you do, which can affect your mood, self-worth, and happiness.
Lack of Meaningful Interaction
When we are constantly connected online, it becomes much easier to stay “in the loop” without engaging with people. We can scroll through our newsfeeds and see what everyone is up to. We can like, comment, and share without ever having an in-depth conversation with the people we call our friends.
If you’ve replaced face-to-face interaction with online interactions, you may start to feel isolated, anxious, depressed, and lonely. You might find it difficult to connect with people on a deeper level, and you may have trouble building and maintaining close relationships.
Distracted Attention
When we’re constantly on our phones, it can be difficult to pay attention to the people around us. If you are having a conversation with someone, but you are also checking your notifications or browsing the latest posts, you might not be giving them the attention they need and deserve.
This can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings. It can also make the other person feel unimportant and devalued.
If you’re always distracted by your phone, you might miss out on important moments in your friends’ lives. You might not be listening when they need to be heard, and you might not be fully present when they need your support.
It’s Time To Reconnect
It’s more important than ever to take steps to preserve and protect our friendships. Whether that means limiting your screen time or making a conscious effort to engage with people offline, there are many things you can do to stay connected and engaged.
By prioritizing real-world interaction and connection, we can all work to build and maintain more meaningful, authentic friendships in our modern world.
If you find that social media is having a negative impact on your friendships, consider spending less time online or taking a break from social media altogether. You might be surprised at how much better you feel when you’re connected with friends instead of being connected to their avatar on a screen.
