It is a thought provoking reality of our modern existence that we congregate in “digital villages,” seeking interaction, connection, information, affirmation. Even ten years ago it would have been considered lunacy to suggest that a social media site would be home to one billion users, 12% of the world’s population. Facebook truly is big enough to be it’s own country, and it would be one of the world’s largest at that!
A recent article on linkedin examines the reality of interaction in these digital gathering places and asks whether it provides solace or further isolation.
Citing a study done at the Universitat Berlin, the immediate conclusion seems to be that regardless of feedback, simply posting status updates on facebook decreased feelings of isolation and loneliness and actually translated to better real-world relationships!
However, the study did not ask about the long terms effects on personality (narcissim, self-centeredness, egoism, etc)….and I’m sure some might think that being the centre of one’s own digital universe (as the linkedin article describes it) could be detrimental in the long term.
What is the solution?
ACTION INSPIRES! *courtesy of Foundation for a Better Life*
I would like to propose that the solution is for the individual users to take one step beyond the digital interaction towards real world action. It is one thing to say something, another thing to live like you mean what you said. This is where Dighu comes in. While we have a social media aspect to our website, the real soul of the company is the action it challenges people to take in order to make the world better. Dighu’s goal is to acknowledge the digital connectivity and enable it to come to fruition in the “real world”. Can you imagine how amazing the world would be if you could shake the hand of a friend you met online on the other side of the world? What about the possibility of not only professing support for a cause but actually being able to get dirty working for it?
This possiblity for action will help ensure that we don’t crown ourselves royalty at the centre of our own digital universe, but instead challenge ourselves to be truly authentic in our relationships and our commitments.
Social media has tremendous power for good, if only we recognize the importance of preserving our humanity and living as a true member of the real world also.
:DIGHU 