Facebook and Loneliness

Submitted by Derek Alton on April 15, 2012 - 11:18pm

The internet and social media has allowed us to connect on a larger scale then we could ever have imagined yet research by Robert Putnam and numerous other scholars shows that social capital is shrinking and lonliness is growing.  Below is a link to an article on facebook and loneliness that is very good.  Enjoy, share and meet with friends to talk about it over coffee (or hot chocolate).

Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?

 

By STEPHEN MARCHE

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-u...

 

 

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Comments:
So connected but... Submitted by Jennifer Laurie (not verified) on April 20, 2012 - 12:02pm.

Thanks for sharing Derek.  This was a timely and very interesting article.

I have fallen in and out of love with Facebook frequently as well as other social media tools.  Love how it connects me with things of interest and great ideas from around the world but hate how I feel like I am drowning in information.  Exposed to a lot but not necessarily enriched.  It's a conundrum compounded by the fact that if you aren't on social media sites, there is a tendency to feel "out of it". 

How do people keep the balance between real life and virtual life?  Why do you use social media?  Do you feel more or less connected to your world because of it?  All great questions to ponder, as you suggested, with a group of friends over a coffee!

Hi Jennifer, thank you for Submitted by Derek Alton on April 22, 2012 - 11:28am.

Hi Jennifer, thank you for your response.  I agree it is difficult.  Most of my friends regularly use facebook, either to keep up with friends or to share articles.  I find that i get hundreds of messages on my news feed every day.  I have given up trying to keep up with it.  In fact I usually only read stuff that is posted on my wall by others.  For me facebook has become a tool to organize and communicate and not to build relationships with.  i do that in person.  i know though that this is rare for my generation that has become so wired in.

Great point Submitted by Jennifer Laurie (not verified) on April 25, 2012 - 11:26am.

Derek, I think the distinction you have made in communicating vs relationship building is very important. 

I essentially do the same - Facebook let's me keep up to date on organizations or blogs I find of interest.  I don't feel connected to people just throug that medium.  It is great for keeping up with friends who are scattered across the globe but I still use the phone or GASP letters (!) to actually keep the relationship going.