WEEK THREE: CONNECTED - ALONE

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The article “The continuous partial everywhere” is one that truly resonates with me.  Having been part of the first generation of the truly connected (our home had the internet from when I was 11), I have grown up with “friends” I have never met, who live on the other side of the planet, yet who are a part of my life.  Many are amazed that one of my closest friends I have met in person twice, yet has “known” for 14 years, speak to every day and consider very close to my heart.  The idea of being completely connected to those on the other side of the planet, constantly- where time differences are the only real barrier, is one which many find confronting- however it is the reality in which we live.  The advent on social media has meant not only various platform and media to keep us connected, but also a constant voyeuristic look into the lives of others, with real-time updates providing a continuous feed of entertainment.

Communication, it seems, is becoming less face-to-face, and more virtual, through the increased use of computers and smart devices.  However, surveys and studies are beginning to point to the fact that despite all this communication and all these options, people are beginning to feel a lot lonelier. Social connections are increasing, but decreasing in quality- people feel that they have fewer people to ”talk to”.  Social capital is declining due to numerous trends- urban sprawl, television, social media and the disintegration of the traditional family.  A recent study in Australia found that half the population is active on Facebook, and that these users reported increased feelings of loneliness to non-users. And loneliness, it seems, increases with online interactions and affects not only ones psychological wellbeing, but the way genes are expresses- the basic process of DNA transcription.  When you are lonely, your whole body is lonely.

Hampton, K. Sessions Goulet, L. Her, E. J. and Rainie, L. 2009. “Social Isolation and New Technology”. Pew Research Centre. Online: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18--Social-Isolation-and-New-Technology.aspx

Laranier, J. 2010. You Are Not a Gadget.  USA: Knopf Doubleday

Marchie, S. ND.“Is Facebook Making us Lonely”. The Atlantic. Accessed 10 August, 2012. Online: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-us-lonely/308930/

Turkle, S. 2011. Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology, and less from each other”.  New York: Basic Books.

Zelfde, J. V., 2012. "The aspatial city." The continuous partial everywhere. http://juhavantzelfde.com/post/23506562343/the-aspatial-city.