Many of us would like nothing more than to return to the mid-20th century, when we truly had a common culture and deep love of country.But we must face the music: times they are a-changin'. Actually, they've already changed drastically.
I may sound old-fashioned, which I proudly am, but life online cannot even come close to replacing or satisfying the spiritual hunger of human beings. It might pretend to, just like bright lights and come-hither poses lure one into sordid nightclubs, but placing our faith on modernity leaves us blind to one another and what is human. Turn off your screens, says Taki, and start living.
Again, I don't disagree with the sentiment here. We would all be better off if, instead of getting entranced by the Instagram Reel doomscroll, we went outside, touched grass, and socialized with actual people. No argument there.
Taki, however, misses an important fact here: Social media has actually helped facilitate IRL social connections and, if used correctly, can be a powerful tool in combating loneliness and isolation.
As I've documented before in National Review and Philanthropy Daily, certain social media apps have proved to be formidable supplements - though, perhaps not replacements altogether - to the old-school way of forging social connections.
In The Guardian, Emily Bratt writes about the friendships she's made on Timeleft, "an app that invites you to dine with six strangers."
Through it, you are asked to complete a personality quiz – apparently used to match you with six like-minded friends-to-be. Then you’re briefed on where you need to be for dinner and when. Once again, the unnaturalness of the situation made me slightly uncomfortable. We were one of several groups of strangers, positioned across a restaurant floor, all relying on an algorithm to find new friends – it was like an episode of Black Mirror.
But there was a comfort in learning that these six strangers were in this for similar reasons. Most were at a time in their lives where old friendship trajectories had changed course and there was a desire to seek out new kindred spirits. Elvira turned out to be one such kindred spirit. Seated opposite me but one, she was the quietest of the group and initially I assumed we had nothing in common. Then she made a dry, acerbic comment under her breath, giving me a wry smile, and I realised in that moment that we shared the same sense of humour. That was enough for us to keep in touch and hang out periodically over the next 11 months. In that time, I introduced her to another friend, with whom she has formed a friendship of her own, and now the three of us meet for dinner and join each other’s social events.
Emily's experience with app-based social connections is becoming more and more common.
My social life, for instance, has benefited a great deal from social media. For example, I learned about Reading Rhythms, an NYC-based group that hosts "reading parties" across the city, through Instagram. See my article on Reading Rhythms for Front Porch Republic here.
Additionally, I first heard about my local bar's weekly open mic via Instagram. I'm now a regular.
This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the myriad other social connections I've made using social media as a tool.
So, while the natural inclination is to blame the apps and tech on the country's current social maladies - and, to be sure, some of these arguments have merit - it would be unwise to overlook the good in them, too.
