The internet allows us constant access to information and resources on demand right at our fingertips.
The internet has connected us all to each other and the wealth of human knowledge closing the distance
we once had. The internet has only ever gotten faster and closed the distance more and more throughout time.
There are many implications on what this speed and shortened distances does to us and for us,
but most interesting to me is the social implications.
To start, let’s consider the fact that we have near constant access to others. From bosses and coworkers,
teachers and professors, to our friends and family, and even to strangers. We have ample ways to get in
contact with these people all the time. This is often seen as a primarily good thing as we can keep, make,
and further relationships conveniently with the barriers of time and distance significantly lessened.
In fact, the only real time barrier is the other person’s reply.
Now it's important to note that since things have only ever gotten faster, our patience and attention
spans are significantly lowered. So consider this, how long are you willing to patiently wait for the
other person’s reply? Do you expect it within a day, a few hours, an hour, or maybe in a matter of minutes?
It probably depends on the person and situation, but this is a pretty common thing to see where people get angry
or annoyed when people do not quickly get back to them. We are all likely guilty of it, and maybe sometimes that
annoyance or anger is justified. But then, how long does it take you to reply?
The interesting thing to me about the speed and instant access of the internet,
is not that we have constant access to everything,
it is the fact that everyone else has constant access to us.
Having constant access to people is a relatively new phenomenon and there is both good and bad to this.
For one thing, the people you care about are able to reach out to you. On the other hand, your boss and coworkers
also often have this access to you. It becomes very easy for work to follow you home no matter what the work is,
even if it shouldn’t be able to. It isn’t even always malicious, sometimes it is where those who don’t have a healthy
work life balance will take it out on others. Sometimes however, there is no ill meaning, it is just easy to overstep
this divide when asking a little question or favor is as simple as a quick click away.
It doesn’t have to be in a work setting for this access to turn negative either. Have you ever had a day
where it feels like everyone is texting or messaging you constantly? Even if they’re all positive social
interactions, I personally find those days very exhausting. It’s like I don’t feel refreshed, as digital
communication seems to lack some of the positive aspects of connection, but I also didn’t get anything done
either. Maybe it is just a me problem, but surely there has to at least be sometimes where you experience a call,
text, or other type of message beckoning you to be in a conversation you do not currently wish to take part in.
Or maybe you’ve found your time to sleep or time to work interrupted by someone reaching out to you. It’s not even
that these conversations are bad or unenjoyable, it's just that sometimes you don’t have the energy,
need to be in the moment, or need to focus on something else.
It’s like we’re never truly alone but we’re not having true personal connection either.
Of course it’s easy to say that it’s an easy fix and to just establish better boundaries. While setting good
boundaries is the solution, to call it an easy solution is unfitting. Ignoring work messages after hours, while
a healthy separation, can have potentially devastating implications for your career. There are so many social
expectations and pressures to always offer quick responses. Additionally, as previously mentioned it’s not like
these interactions are always negative, we often want to talk to our friends and family, even if it’s maybe not
what’s best for us at the moment.
Which leads to the question:
What is the impact of always being connected with the digital space?
Of others having constant access to us as we have to them?
I do not know the answer, and maybe there is no issue with it after all.
Maybe it is simply a personal issue I experience that is unrelatable.
I merely offer my ramblings of someone trying to sort through their thoughts on the matter.
The Digital Panacea
Exploring Electracy
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