Convenience is not the answer
Living in an era of so many technologies brings its own challenges. Some people could argue that the innovations make our lives easier, so that we have more time for things that matter to us. Others, including myself, would express the idea that we are becoming less human due to technologies. Granted, they allow us to be more productive and help so much on a daily basis, but I feel like they are depriving us of many experiences that human beings should have.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the progress we've had over the past 20-30 years sucks. In fact, I am grateful to have access to the internet. I believe it has helped many people realize that the world is much bigger and goes beyond their houses and jobs. So it is worth exploring it. On the other hand, it takes humanity so long to actually handle that responsibility coming with great power properly. And I am not an exception here.
For a long time, I have been trying to be rather mindful of what tools and why I use frequently. As for the most popular socials, I have only YouTube and Reddit. I decided to stay away from Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and the like. And I am happy I did. I kinda blame these for the way people started perceiving each other, especially younger generations. It is crazy how many unrealistic and toxic expectations they have created. I do not think seeing so many people's lives through their most expensive lenses is inspiring. In fact, it could be so only if taken in smaller amounts. But they are virtually non-existent nowadays. And the worst part of it all is that a bunch of people are blind to this problem, or maybe they simply choose to be so.
Even with the very few socials and tools I use myself, I feel like I am still highly dependent on them. I have tried to restrict and track how I spend time there. But it's become clear to me that I have been dealing with the symptoms, not with the real diseases. I noticed that I often end up on socials or messengers like Telegram because I seek to fulfill my needs. My insecure self has learned that some magical pills reside in these neighborhoods. And it goes above and beyond to make sure that I take a couple, that I start feeling better. Even if it is just for a fleeting moment.
However, having taken a walk to the deepest corners of my soul, I came to the conclusion that I feel quite lonely, disappointed, and scared. So these are the diseases I should get treatment for. But spending so much time online makes this situation kinda less serious. Occasional moments of euphoria during conversations with others or watching a few inspiring videos makes me forget about my pains. Yet they never go away.
The other day I had one idea crossing my mind. What if instead of limiting or regulating my time with the tools, I should actually get to the roots of my problem? I feel like if I understand how to work with those unpleasant feelings better, I might no longer need to take the magical pills. For instance, why would I constantly seek online interactions when I have good people around in real life? Indeed, I am sure I would do it way less.
There is nothing wrong to keep up with certain people online from time to time. But when the online communication happens 90% of the time, it is time to reflect on how it actually affects me. I can see the convenience usually fails to make me closer with someone. Moreover, the more I rely on it, the more distant I start feeling. What a paradox, right? I have so many tools to make communication with friends more frequent and comfortable but I don't feel the effect. All I feel is how unnatural these talks become.
It is nice to see that I am not turning the blind eye to what bothers me. Feeling negative emotions is uncomfortable, but they help me understand that something is not right. So I am glad I do even if it makes me sound pessimistic. The real question though is how do I move away from my behavioral patterns in the context of technologies? To be honest, I have no clue at the moment. It is usually easier said than done. I can contemplate many choices and habits of mine but being stuck nonetheless.
If I had to take a guess, I would say a way forward lies in my routine. Replacing a few cogs of my machine could trigger some progress. Although I can feel the change is going to hurt like hell, it is probably for the best. So what cogs will I replace this time?