Is our society becoming less social?

Every once in a few decades, some event happens which changes the course of human evolution. It changes the basic premise of our existence. Humans have survived and evolved through thousands of years of famines, wars, pandemics and have become an even stronger species.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed a lot. One of the many things it has changed is the accelerated pace of technology adoption, changing the way humans interact.

We suddenly realized we can work, study and stay connected remotely. But that isn’t necessarily good.

The population of India is one of the youngest in the world. According to a study, more than 65% Indians aged 18 to 24 suffer from depression. Feeling lonely and anxious is a common thing nowadays. Unemployment is a significant issue. Is this all fallout of the pandemic? Most certainly.

Think about it. Are we happier attending school or studying from home? Are people happier working from home or going to office? Are we looking forward to in-person meets with our friends or zoom meets? Are we happier travelling to places or watching web series?

Humans are social beings and thrive in a social set-up, but the whole definition of human interaction is undergoing change. Are we ready for this paradigm change? Will we thrive in this new world? Robots, humanoids, AI are all for real. Soon they will engulf our lives and will diminish the lines between real and virtual. They will probably be a death knell for the socially thriving human species.

There are no definite answers. We most certainly will survive this. However, whether we evolve into a dominantly lonely species with no real connections or we overcome this and many more disruptions awaiting us in the future will all depend on how we choose to evolve.

The least we can do is to stop thinking of mental health issues as a taboo. We have to become aware and spread awareness about mental wellness and make sure our society is a safe and supportive space for people going through these issues.

If we work as a team, I’m sure we will overcome the adverse effects the pandemic has caused and evolve into a continually social species.