As our technology has gotten more advanced, in many ways we are using it to replace human interaction. What is it costing us?
Under the right circumstances, you could go for days, or possibly even weeks, without being in the same room with someone else. After all, you can order your groceries online and have them delivered to you. Many jobs can be done remotely. Just about anything you need can be purchased through the internet.
Even if you decide to leave your house, interaction can be kept to a minimum. You can avoid any awkward chit chat with grocery store employees by opting for the self-checkout line. Wearing headphones or ear buds ensures people will not talk to you.
We’ve even, as a society, decided that a voice-to-voice phone call is too much. Civilized people text instead.
Even sex is being configured to take place alone. Porn is available to anyone at any time, and now we even have remarkably realistic sex dolls or robots.
The reason for our self-imposed isolation is fairly obvious: interacting is hard! And it can be awkward at times. Everyone has their own preferences. Some people like to talk about anything and everything; others are quiet. One person might be a hugger, while another doesn’t even like to shake hands. Maybe you don’t know what to say most of the time.
As more and more our lives are spent minimizing the time spent with others, are we getting out of the practice of making small talk? Is it harder to bond with someone now, compared to a decade ago? Is personal interaction a vanishing practice? How can we engage more with others?
Related questions: What are our responsibilities to others? How can we encourage meaningful conversation? Do you feel lonely? What role does community play in your life?
Yes, technology has dramatically reduced the need for human interaction. But vanishing is too strong of a word. For example, many people still frequent coffeehouses, breweries, and bars. I would say that people are now more in control of the number of personal interactions they want to engage in.
That being said, much of what was noted in the context of this question is valid. For example, in my line of work of advocacy/lobbying, technology has dramatically reduced social interaction in what used to be a much more social work situation. Most legislative staff often prefer texts and emails to just dropping by their office. Similarly, I can text a legislator rather than waiting for them in the lobby of the House or Senate chambers–once much more bustling places than they are now. I can even watch legislative hearings on YouTube in real-time rather than sitting in a hearing room with scores of other lobbyists.
I think this reduced personal interaction is, on balance, more negative than positive. For example, it has been proven that less direct human interaction increases people’s sense of isolation and mental health difficulties.
We need a better balance of interaction than we have right now.