Hacker News Reader

Comment by sigsergv | Hacker News Reader

I don't think number of lonely people increases, they just become much more visible. Social networks and other changes in modern society make loneliness acceptable and people stop hiding it.

View on HN

At the same time, social networks create an illusion for lonely people so they feel accompanied. It’s not all that bad.

On the other hand one might argue that they also create the illusion of how fantastic and exciting everyone else's life is - an artificial and often unrealistic image that's broadcasted and probably not helping lonely people at all.

Junk food isn't bad once in a while.

But if you eat junk food all the time, it's pretty obvious that one of the immediate consequences of eating junk food every day is the general decline of your health.

So it goes for social media. Social networks are the junk food of socializing. And don't get me started on what that does to someone's sense of self, well-being, norms, ethics, morality etc.

Maybe this picture will be illuminating to you[1]. It succinctly summarizes what I'm trying to say.

I should probably mention the image might be NSFW.

[1] http://artfucksme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/controversi...

We are currently using technology to tear people apart with the illusion of social contacts. Instead of building communities we are supporting the development of hikikomoris. Already now, you don't need to leave your apartment for work, food, non-food supermarket items, payments, etc.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com