PERSPEKTIFNUSANTARA.COM– Advances in digital technology have transformed the way people communicate and go about their daily lives. The rise of smartphones and social media has made various activities faster and more convenient. However, behind these conveniences lie new challenges, namely a decline in the quality of social interaction among the digital generation.
In today’s era, the digital generation prefers to spend their time in the virtual world rather than interacting with those around them. According to a Data Reportal (2024) report, the average internet user spends approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes per day in front of a screen (screen time). Consequently, they lack time to socialize with others, and such habits actually have many negative impacts on them. One of the consequences is a lack of ability to communicate effectively and consistently with others. While social relationships, which were initially built through empathy, expression, and emotional closeness, are ultimately replaced by symbols, emojis, and brief responses.
Such habits are all too common in our daily lives. We often see groups of people around us gathering with family or friends, yet they tend to choose to play on their own phones instead. As a result, they fail to truly enjoy the togetherness of the gathering. The very purpose of the gathering to communicate with one another has been lost. Yet these gatherings should serve as a means for us to build good and positive relationships.
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Social media also frequently creates an illusion of closeness for its users. One common issue we see among some people is that while they may have many followers across their various social media accounts, they often feel lonely. Consequently, they end up focusing more on seeking validation on social media through comments, likes, and views on their posts, rather than building real-life connections in their immediate surroundings.
This situation demonstrates that technological advancements do not always have a positive impact on our lives, particularly in social relationships. Connections in the digital world are often not as strong as those in the real world. Therefore, social media should be used wisely, and we should spend more time interacting directly with others.
