In today’s reality, communication is available for us all the time. It seems impossible to spend a day without a phone or laptop. The capability to perform our day-to-day tasks is dependent upon the communication services our devices provide.   

According to Pew Research Center, 95% of teens have access to a smartphone with 60% saying they use TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat. It’s no question that access to social media and various communication platforms are integral parts of our lives. Nonetheless, our world of virtual communication raises a number of serious concerns threatening the very fabric of our social lives. 

Take this scenario for example: you’re sitting with a group of acquaintances having small talk. The dialogue slowly fizzles out as none of you have anything else to add. Unconsciously, you grab your phone out of your pocket to check your Instagram stories, your text messages or whatever it may be. 

Does this sound familiar to you? Sadly enough, as the vast majority of us carry a mobile device everywhere we go, this phenomenon is extremely common. It has become a social norm to reach for our phones the second a conversation lulls. It’s almost viewed as a necessity in order to avoid an awkward moment of silence. This phenomenon has become so normal that many people prefer engaging with their “social lives” online rather than the ones sitting right in front of them. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only issue with the rise of virtual communication. 

I’m sure we can all relate to the struggle of properly relaying your tone while drafting an email or text. It’s so normal to rely on your device to communicate important information all the while it clearly lacks valuable aspects of communication that face-to-face conversation carries like tone, mannerisms, facial expressions and so on. To put it simply, there’s no alternative to in-person contact.  

On any online platform or social media account you have the option to display yourself as practically anyone you want to be. There’s no mechanism that assures people present as they truly are. This fact has severe implications for society’s well-being. The existence of anonymous social media accounts has encouraged a ridiculous number of people to say anything they please on the internet, since nobody ever finds out who they really are. 

There are far too many instances in which hateful or derogatory rhetoric is spread with no consequence whatsoever. This was especially prevalent during the recent 2024 election, the intense partisan divide has undoubtedly led to the spread of copious amounts of angry discourse that had only been fueled by the widespread use of virtual communication services.

On a different note, children and teens during the COVID-19 pandemic had bore one of the most striking implications of the downfalls of communication technology. As a preteen during the pandemic myself, I can strongly attest to the negative effects the pandemic had on my social development. I almost exclusively spent my time engaging in recreation and entertainment on the internet or just online schoolwork. I inevitably ended up lacking important social skills during an important developmental phase. This wasn’t just an issue I was suffering from, this was recognized as a widespread phenomena not long ago. According to the Mayo Clinic, children’s social development and mental health had immensely suffered as a result of the pandemic. This dilemma clearly speaks to the immense drawbacks technology has had on our mental health and social capability. Being engrossed in online spaces does not hold the same value as authentic in-person contact whatsoever. 

Some may argue we’re better off in a society with easy online interaction because it allows for instant communication with whomever, whenever. While communication technology has its benefits, it’s simply not enough to compensate for the harm it causes. At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves; are we truly happier with unlimited access to virtual communication?

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Aida Karim at [email protected].