Trend #7. Digital isolation

One of the more ironic consequences of digitalisation is that the more connected we become the more isolated we feel. In short, real-world communities are breaking apart in favour of sealed off individuals. Part of the reason for this is that most of our newfound connectivity is wafer thin and it is isolation that is the recurring theme of life in the 21st Century. We have been persuaded to trade intimacy for familiarity and we are now paying the price.

For example, we know lots of people but we know them less well. We follow people on Twitter and feel that we know people but we are deluding ourselves. How can any friendship be properly maintained in 140 characters or less? It can’t. The reason that Twitter has been successful is that it gives the illusion of connection. We feel empowered because we can tell the world what we are doing (right now) but it plays straight into exhibitionist, narcissistic and voyeuristic urges.

Facebook friends are another example. Did you know that the average Facebook user has 130 friends? Great. But did you also know that research by sociologists at the University of Arizona and Duke University North Carolina (US) has found that Americans have fewer real friends? What’s a real friend? Back in 1985 the average American had three people to talk to about their problems. Now the figure is just two.

Other research suggests that the proportion of Americans who say that they have nobody whatsoever to confide in has increased from 10% to 25% over the last twelve years. This broadly supports some very recent (December 2009) research by the Samaritan’s in the UK that showed that young people are more worried about loneliness than the elderly (21% for those aged 18-24 years of age versus 8% for the 55+ age group).

Implications? Expect to see an increase in feelings of aloneness and depression. Also expect people over a certain age to drift away from social networks and digital friendships in favour of their physical equivalents. Finally, expect to see an increased amount of interest in physical gatherings, live events and the thought that life is about quality not quantity.

Links: People buying digital friends online (e.g. uSocial.net)