The Isolation of the Internet

I think isolation is highly laughed at because people just think that you just need to go and meet a friend and therefore your issue of isolation is solved. Isolation isn’t just a circumstance, not always, not all the time. Isolation is the mindset of feeling like no one is filling that empty gap. No matter whether you meet up with people, isolation and loneliness is becoming a rather paradox idea considering that being connected to people has never been easier. So why is feeling isolated and lonely in such a prevalence.

We avoid a lot more ‘catch up’ culture and making the effort to see people because we already have an idea of what everyone lives are about. We assume people are doing well. We assume that people are happier, therefore we don’t want to be that friend that’s going to disrupt their loves. We don’t like being burdens. We do want to make people make space.

The internet is the isolation pothole of loneliness. The blackout windows where we can see out but we choose to avoid showing people our own view. We don’t invite people in to see the darkness. So if you’re going through a dark period, the internet is going to keep you in the pit.

The isolation of the internet is also contradictory; I find this amusing but annoying, the answers seems to be conjuring more questions with empty answers. In isolation, we are more present online. It fills the time. It can make us feel as though we are part of something. We may even find us messaging people, even strangers, because we believe that a message is just as good as a verbal conversation. However, the brain doesn’t use only conversation are registers them as a form of bonding; so it doesn’t actually create a positive stimulation. So really, we don’t benefit in a biological sense from online connections.

The internet plays on the idea that we have never been more connected. We have never been more in touch with our friends, strangers, lovers, family even your job (the amount of work Whatsapp groups chats are the worst!). The internet is lying when it tells us that we are happy by knowing what everyone is doing. WE shouldn’t know this. We shouldn’t be able to update out lives every hour so other know. It really creates the gap between mystery - mystery in a person lives is the motivated and intrigue we need to re-connect with someone. The internet is draining us from intrigue.

I’m really sorry for anyone that is feeling isolated and lonely. That feeling you have, it’s really not created by you, but just by your surroundings. It is real, but it can be broken down. The internet makes us want to consume more and more and more. Addictive at it’s worst. I won’t pretend I find it easy to take a step back from re-loading my news feed every hour (even though I don’t even enjoy social media; it’s more out of habit).

Breaking a habit is always easier said than done. Especially if this habit is somewhat ‘socially normal’. The internet is not your friend, and never will be. The internet can provide a quick giggle from a meme or a funny tweet, but it doesn’t really provide happiness. The internet is the beautifully hollow devil; it’s so false, but it’s an easy falseness we forget, we it comes across so real and raw.

The internet is better in small dosages. To quickly make a lunch date, to say congrats to a friend, to upload your holiday pictures so you have them saved somewhere safe. It might even be great to re-tweet your favourite follower. BUT IT IS NOT A PLACE TO BE FOR HOURS ON END.

The internet, You paradox. You soul-sucking, creep that is lurking ready to send a happy tone sound so i can be taken from my reality into yours. You thief of connection. You disguise yourself so well, blending into the norms of my life, playing your hand at my emotions, telling me information on others; what a gossip and pot-stir you are. You enjoy seeing other fall vital of your trust, how can we begin to imagine life without you. Something we probably can’t admit. We feed you our emotions whilst you feed us the news. The fake, tell me more news. I hate that YOU know more about what I think I want to see. You see it before me. You’ll get tired I’m sure of it. You’ll run out of things to say, because I replaced you with my real friends, the ones I can see an instant reaction rather than left on ‘read’. I don’t have to wait for them to response, but get that instant happiness of their smile as we laugh together rather than send 10 emojis on a screen from an actually sad sender.

Not anymore internet, not anymore will I live alone, whilst you have all the fun.

Martha’s Mind x