In this blog post, we will examine from various perspectives whether communication through social media is a genuine connection or just an illusion created by the digital age.
In the past, meeting someone at a specific place was based on a prearranged time and location. Going to the designated place at the appointed time and waiting in anticipation of meeting the other person were all part of the process. However, this process often led to anxiety when the other person was late, which in turn led to various imaginings. Thoughts such as “Maybe something happened” or “Maybe they went to the wrong place” followed.
In modern society, with the development of IT technology, people can easily communicate with others anywhere thanks to smart devices. For example, you can continue a conversation with someone in real time while on a bus or subway on your way to meet them. No longer do we have to guess where the other person is, we can easily find out where they are and why they are late.
The basis for these benefits is social media. Social media is an abbreviation for social networking service, which refers to services that enable indirect communication with others through data communication. If you look at people’s smartphones, you will find that they have at least one social media app, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or KakaoTalk.
SNS has the advantage of allowing people to connect with many people around the world online, regardless of distance or time, and share various stories and information. Thanks to this, we live in a world where we can easily connect with people on the other side of the globe, not just communicate on a daily basis.
These days, there is a part of our body that has become particularly busy. That is our thumb. Everyone lives their lives looking at their smartphones anytime, anywhere, moving their thumbs nonstop. What makes people so curious that they move their thumbs nonstop? One of the reasons why people’s thumbs are so busy is social media. Social media allows people to show different sides of themselves, see different people, and share stories and information with each other. All of this has become possible with just a few movements of the thumb. We have now entered an era where anyone can instantly know who they are communicating with and how their lives are changing. People say that they are communicating with others with just a few movements of their thumbs. Furthermore, just by looking at the text on a small screen, we are under the illusion that we are seeing the whole world.
Can we call what happens on social media real communication? We always ask each other how we are doing. “How have you been?” “Let’s grab a bite to eat when you have time!” We have these conversations habitually. However, behind these words, there may be a lack of genuine interest or deep connection. What was communication before the advent of social media? The concept of communication that humanity has established since ancient times was to meet in person and have a conversation. This concept of communication, which has been built up over tens of thousands of years, can be said to be the most basic form of human communication. With the advent of social media, even friends who used to meet in person to talk to each other now check each other’s social media accounts, and the number of times they actually meet in person has decreased. Social media, which has been around for less than 10 years, has begun to shake the very foundation of this basic concept of communication.
The sudden change in the form of communication has caused a clear divide in people’s reactions. Those who adapt to the change find social media to be a good means of communication, but those who cannot adapt are becoming increasingly marginalized from communication. This creates a barrier that prevents everyone from communicating with each other. In particular, the digital divide between different age groups and generations makes this barrier even thicker. The younger generation creates and shares new cultures through social media, but the older generation lags behind and becomes increasingly isolated from communication. This barrier prevents everyone from communicating with each other, which undermines the very essence of communication.
What are some other reasons why communication on social media is limited? Stories and information shared on social media tend to be partial rather than comprehensive. Therefore, the world as seen through social media is only a small part of the whole. Furthermore, the images people share on social media are not a complete representation of themselves. This is because many people want to show the beautiful and good aspects of themselves that they have chosen. In a sense, it can be seen as a place where people want to show off who has a better life. People are talking while showing only a part of themselves and looking only at a part of the other person. Can we say that we know each other through this kind of communication? I think this is not true communication, but limited communication.
As the world changes, the concept of communication in the digital world is changing. However, the most basic concept of communication must not be shaken. I believe that when we look at the world, we must use both eyes to see and experience it for ourselves in order to truly see the world. We cannot see the whole world with just our thumbs. That is only half communication. We can see various aspects of the world through social media, but that is not the real world. Why not take a break from your thumbs and look at the world with your own eyes? The world you see through your own eyes will be more diverse. I think it is necessary to engage in real communication, rather than formal communication through text on a screen, with your thumb busy on social media. Now is the time for us to make a more conscious effort to communicate truly. Only through the experience of meeting, feeling, and talking with others can we truly understand the world.
