Look up to socialize (ง •̀灬•́)ง

Right now, at this very moment, millions of people from all around the world are surfing the Internet, scrolling the screens of their cell phones, and immersing themselves in the seemingly endless digital world. Work, study, entertainment, “socialize”… Indeed the Internet is versatile: it seems to cover every single components of our daily life!-

But wait… “socialize”? Do typing those abbreviated language or sending those carefully chosen emojis really count as socialization? I know this is a cliche, but I have to say…


THIS WORLD HAS CHANGED SO MUCH. _(:з」∠)_

The word “computer” was first introduced to me when I was about 7 years old. My first impression towards the computer was those BIG boxes in my dad’s office with grasslands, clouds, and blue sky on the screens. (if you know which picture I am talking about…:) The idea “Internet” was even more vague that seems far away from an 7 year old’s life.

I never really touched the Internet until I reached grade 7.

My sister though, just 5 years younger than me, was born with computers and smartphones around. She knows how to send chats, watch movies and play games online since she was 7 (!!! That is 6 years earlier than me…) When I went home last summer, I saw my 11 year old sister texting “LOLs” to her friends first thing in the morning… Literally, at that moment, my face looked like this:

 "How could you stare at a screen when your sister is beside you!"

Undoubtedly, Internet is leading our new generations to a completely different form of socialization. In the digital world, people care about getting the “likes” on Facebook, checking the updates of the followings, viewing the fascinating news… This is somehow associated with increase of loneliness and depression for certain groups of people, which is mentioned in the article. We tend to spend a lot of time worrying about how to present ourselves online rather than how we are in the real world. Young generations prefer to socialize online rather than meeting face to face with their friends; and when they are together, they're on their phones rather than engaging in conversations. Our social capabilities are being replaced by the Internet.

I remember both my friends and I would remember everyone elses’ birthdays. We would either do countdowns a month ahead or making surprise on that special day. It is sad how some young people have to rely on social media to remind them of their friend’s birthday. Plus on the day, all they’ll do is to send a few 🍰🍰🍰 to the birthday person.

Behind a computer screen, people do socialize with each other, yet the contact it produces is not the same thing as intimacy.


PS: check out this PSA "Look up!"

"When we open our computers, it is when our doors are shut."