Article: 2022 - A Social Dystopian World

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2022 - A Social Dystopian World

In the English language, the adjective social has two main meanings: the interaction of the individual with society, and the interactions between individuals. Humans are not only gregarious beings (beings who enjoy the company of others), they also need their presence in order to proliferate and enhance their chances of survival. Being social is a necessity for humans and society, enabling them to thrive.

As more and more time is spent chatting online, complementing or even replacing in-person interactions, the need for a social life now extends to the cyberspace. We strive for interactions replicating what feels good in real life but in a controlled environment, at the risk of putting one in a virtual safety bubble. This implies the computerization of our social aspects, making it supremely easy to analyze. For instance, a quick look at search trends shows a drastically reduced number of searches for the word "social" during Christmas and New Year's Eve. Isn't it counter-intuitive how the most social time of the year correlates with its reduced presence online ? read more...