The Paradox of Social Media and In-Person Interaction

Despite being more connected than ever through social media, people are experiencing heightened loneliness. This phenomenon is known as dopamine inequality, where social media constantly provides a surge of dopamine, creating an aversion to boredom in real-life interactions. Face-to-face conversations often involve tedious topics, requiring effort to engage and steer discussions towards meaningful subjects. The immediate gratification from swiping away uninteresting interactions online has reduced the tolerance for in-person conversations perceived as less stimulating. Building genuine relationships necessitates investing time in surface-level conversations before deep connections can be formed. Abruptly sharing personal details with strangers lacks the impact of confiding in long-term friends, showcasing the value of investing in gradual friendship development.