Touching Grass: The Chronically Online Epidemic
- Danielle Farrell
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
Why does the internet feel louder than reality?
By: Danielle Farrell
Credit: Medium
We are all aware of the virtual disease we like to call social media. Especially in the last decade, society’s social media usage has significantly increased, as shared in Social Media Usage & Growth Statistics.
Although the phrase "chronically online” is typically used to refer to someone with a high screen time, it may actually be a fate more concerning.
This past month, I realized that I was more comfortable commenting my opinion on a stranger’s TikTok than having a difficult conversation with a friend.
My sudden cognizance of this fact spurred me to explore a phenomenon that has undoubtedly impacted most of modern society: I began to ask myself, has online logic replaced our fundamental instinct of empathy?
Online interactions promote thoughtlessness and blunt, opinion-based responses. Social media users leave nothing unsaid, mocking the obvious insecurities of others without a second thought.
Freed of the unspoken rules that come with face-to-face conversation, individuals no longer feel obligated to refrain from socially unacceptable behavior.
At its core, empathy requires sincerity and genuine consideration for your own and somebody else’s actions. This is scarcely found within online relationships due to the very nature of social media and the instant gratification it provides users.
On the internet, individuals are judged by the small portion of themselves they choose to present — and nothing more. There is a lack of context that is required to truly understand a person. Oftentimes, when it is provided, people choose not to consider it.
This loss of empathy and genuine connection online has led many individuals to struggle with relationships in real life, as even the task of retaining these connections seems to be complicated by the fleeting nature of internet discourse. Social media has made us so desensitized to normal human experiences that the offline world feels almost alien.
On the other hand, because of our extreme levels of exposure to a variety of people, ideas, and events, individuals can develop compassion fatigue. Our minds are not equipped to handle the extreme social expectations that the online world demands.
Although we have largely begun to adapt to the internet, we remain unable to adequately process the infinite exposure to negativity and trauma. It is not new for society to be subjected to breaking news stories, whether it be willingly or unwillingly. But the introduction of 24/7 social media and internet access, which provides individuals with graphic images, first-hand accounts, and fear-mongering, has made it all the more difficult to handle.
This occurrence is already causing detrimental increases in stress levels throughout today’s culture, according to “It matters what you see: Graphic media images of war and terror may amplify distress” (PMC).
The online public feeds off of controversial or shocking media. Algorithms perpetually optimize viewership of this type of content until it is unavoidable for online users.
Because of this cycle, individuals unknowingly have their ability to handle holistic context slowly chipped away. The constant exposure to crisis-centered content trains individuals to assess situations with little more than fragmented ideas that represent the most shocking aspect of the entire concept.
Over time, this trend has shaped society to find real-world interactions unpalatable due to their lack of simplified narratives. For some, being “chronically online” means that an individual feels compelled to be overly cognizant of how their actions could be construed. This behavior may be less abnormal when conducting themselves online, but when translated to the real world, it comes off as undeniably overkill. All of these traits combined can lead a person to receive the social diagnosis of being terminally online.
However, there is still a chance for society to access the cure of touching grass, however frivolous the idea may seem. We must attempt to step back from the internet and wean ourselves off our screens.
The concept of unplugging is not just a marketing tactic or an excuse for people to claim moral superiority. It’s a way to ground oneself in the real world and reconnect with the instincts of live interaction that we were born with.
Whether it be literally immersing yourself in nature or just leaving your phone at home for the evening, I encourage you to try it out — one step at a time.
Danielle is enjoying her second semester with Rowdy Magazine. She also thinks this article might actually be about her.