Problem: Social Disconnect

While individuals have historically relied primarily on family and tribal ties, in modern societies we have been given the opportunity to broaden our horizons because of agriculture and economic systems.  From there, technology has further allowed us comfort and lastly ease in acquiring comfort.  Now modern societies and individuals seem to be slowly losing the historic ties to one another that we’ve had throughout history.

      Today it is not uncommon to see people with a cellphone in their hands almost all of the time, or seemingly talking to themselves (and not paying attention) while on walks with their dogs and/or children, or with friends.  This lack of connection with our environments and with each other is becoming ubiquitous and as it grows our very real need for each other is forgotten.  The problem is that we actually need each other in many ways.

      First, in order to have a civil society we must ourselves act civil.  To act civil we must be responsible and courteous citizens.  These are processes that are necessary not only for individuals, but for groups of individuals.  The internet, rather than actual discussion has taken over much social discourse.  Individuals text while in the company of others.  And the longer that this goes on, the more normalized it gets. The more normalized these slights become the less connected we become with the world around us.  While these seeming slights are seen by many as little nothings, they make up a large portion of what makes societies civil in the first place: our actual connection to those around us and the environment that we find ourselves. 

      As civility wanes because of social disconnections, we are slowly slipping into uncivil practices that then become more normalized.  It is a vicious cycle.

Solution:  Clubs/family connections, social mindset change, and tech company regulation

            The solution to social disconnect must start with individuals’ decisions to live their lives in healthy ways.  Individuals must understand that the “latest fad”, the “newest shiny object” in the arsenal of our consumeristic societies is not always worth the price we pay.  This will, perhaps, happen with time, but it will need to be pushed along by individual’s understanding that they are being fenagled, fed their opinions, and are to great degree, influenced by others, especially sales and marketing.  The decision to “think for one’s self” is influenced a great deal by technical companies.

            Recently most of the social-media giants have been found out to actually be the sellers and buyers of a us as products.  Many if not most of their dealings could be considered immoral at best, and illegal at worst.  For these reasons strict regulation of what tech companies can and cannot say and do must be enacted.  Again, the reminder that this solution is not about censorship, but about the capitalistic motivations behind tech companies.

            Perhaps another solution is to create a society in which the concept of family is once again put central to society.  The family unit in past decades has been the victim of poverty, drugs, consumerism, and general malaise caused by the infatuation of money by society.  This needs to change.  These solutions are not simple nor should they be.  We have allowed ourselves to be herded and corralled.  Now we must make the decision to be free once again.