The web threads of technology have woven deep into our lives, making us partially disabled without its existence. With the boom in social media industries, we got the opportunity to stay connected with our long-lost friends, but somewhere we have forgotten to look towards those around us. The on-screen platform has provided opportunities to share our thoughts with millions but deprived us of presenting ourselves physically in front of one. The indulgence in online communication has killed the skills of personal relations. People are losing empathy in return for content. In the case of a roadside accident, people take out their phones as quickly as possible, not to call for help but to record the scene in desire for a few likes and shares. We raise our voices over sensitive topics like child labour but tend to overlook the kid washing dishes at tea stalls. A recent case was showcased where a man stabbed a woman more than 20 times on a busy street and left her to die, but none can be seen rushing to help her, although thousands of videos went viral showcasing the incident from different camera angles.
An overdose of social media platforms is having adverse effects on the development and growth of the minds of our young future. We can see a drastic shift amongst children and teenagers using media as a form of entertainment and communication. Our parks are empty, which were once filled with children playing in the scorching heat. They know the history of every other internet celebrity but fail to recognize their own relatives. They lack basic etiquette and manners in how to communicate or present themselves. Communication has two attributes: verbal and written. Gen-Z are loaded with technological wisdom but lack basic communication and presentation skills. They can write theses in texts but fail to speak a single sentence in public. They possess connections with top industrialists on platforms like LinkedIn but fail to express themselves even in front of mere shopkeepers. Lack of basic presentability and growing under confidence amongst youngsters will lead to the creation of soft leaders, affecting the pace of growth and development in the nation.
Where AI can be seen learning human emotions, we feel us humans are losing them. If things are not catered to properly, soon there will be no difference between a robot and a human. Slowly and gradually, the statement “Earlier friends would sit together to plan but now they plan to sit together” can be seen coming true. We need to look above our mobile screens and invest our time to study our environment, to grasp real-world knowledge and seek opportunities, which is otherwise lost in content consumption. We need to build empathy and make real-world connections. A single real-life connection is worth more than a thousand digital ones. We need to learn how to express ourselves, how to properly communicate, and basic body language styles. Connecting with people physically will develop our public speaking skills and enhance our personality, making ourselves confident and bold, ensuring healthy survival in the battlefield of career and life.