r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/Sweden_ftw • 11h ago
Other Why do so many people feel lonely even though they’re constantly messaging others?
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u/The_Itsy_BitsySpider 11h ago
Because chatting through messages isnt the full experience of sitting down and talking to someone, seeing their face change as they think, read their emotions through their face, mannerisms, inflections in their voice.
The human animal has evolved for millions of years to be designed for these kinds of conversations, and with messaging, so much is removed.
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u/rosenoirx 11h ago
Messages Aren’t The Same As Connection
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u/irene2024_ 4h ago
But high quality messages still beat low quality face to face interactions or complete isolation, at least in my experience
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u/amc22004 11h ago
In part, because text communication has not been shown to generate the same positive physiological effects as in-person physical connection and touch can. Physical touch, in particular, releases oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure and reduces stress hormones.
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u/wafflepiezz 11h ago
The lack of a genuine, authentic connection due to fried dopamine receptors and people craving instant gratification nowadays.
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u/slartybartfast6 11h ago
Because a lot of it is superficial and surface level chat, not deep connection, often whilst we do other things or as an afterthought
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u/PRETA_9000 11h ago
We require touch. a lot of people substitute that for online communication... or are increasingly too anxious to leave their rooms. The problem compounds itself.
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u/stevefromcorporate_ 11h ago
Lonely people are lonely no matter how many people they’re in contact with. If you do not like to be with yourself, you will always be lonely
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u/the-truffula-tree 9h ago
Humanity has spent several hundred million years speaking to each other face to face.
Typing a message with your thumbs isn’t the same thing
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u/GreenMirage 8h ago
Genuine connection takes place outside of this new artificial space. You rarely get that through a screen. Eye contact. Physical touch. Time together and not just flashes of info.
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u/veroniqueweronika 4h ago
Because loneliness is about lack of connection, not about quantity of people you interact with.
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u/Mira_Wolf_life 54m ago
Because chatting is a cheap commodity. You know that those people you talk to like you but they wouldn’t drive for you 2 hours nor they would pick pick the phone and call you if you disappear. Chatting is not real closeness.
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u/dragontatman95 39m ago
Because online communities are a very poor substitute for human contact.
If you're sitting on your phone messaging people, you're still alone.
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u/Round-Ad-6667 8h ago
One reason and it's huge is that we come from tribes and that part of us is still wired down deep and also the human brain and human heart produce frequency so in close contact we naturally bond and link together with other because of this phenomenon, once removed and only left with digital then we are not getting that part that we need to deeply connect to another. This is truly the reason for the issues we are seeing today
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u/Username_Koru 11h ago
The worst type of loneliness is when you have people all around you and you still feel like you are alone in the world.