Over-Connection Overwhelm

October 17, 2024

Dana Corriel, MD questions whether connecting at rapid speeds can sometimes cause an overconnection-overwhelm.

From/about the article: Ironically, the more connected that we become, the less connected we want to be.

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Someone inside of a FB group in which I always enjoy bantering in said that social media was exhausting. He was tired of seeing back and forth, and simply wanted a space where he could be himself.

I personally felt like the comment made was an extremely astute one, indicative of more than just that the dynamic established within the group.

His comment was reflective of the world in which we now live; and of social media itself, as a whole.

We were so excited to embrace this new medium, way back when it was still in its infancy. It introduced to us a forum in which we could all connect.

“Human, meet a new way to share current events, opinions, photos, and even advocacy work with others really, really fast. Welcome to a new way of meeting new people, regardless of where they physically exist, and interact.”

“No, it’s not a telephone and no, it’s not email either. It’s something different. It connects you EVEN MORE.”

“Wow! Imagine that!” we thought. Connecting at the snap of a finger – or at the click of a computer’s on/off switch. It all sounded so exciting. Enticing. New.

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And so we took it on.

We dipped our toes into the information highway and we tried the thing out. Took our online personas out for a ride, one could say.

Before we knew it, we were cruising down the newly-paved highway of communication; some of us at top speeds.

But this wasn’t the autobahn. Making connections fast didn’t necessarily make them “good” ones.

Many of us suddenly found ourselves “over-connected”.

Moving too fast, so to speak.

That’s the reality of this space today; where many of us ‘live’.

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For many, the more they connect, the less comfortable they are being here.

In this space, outsiders who don’t know you start to dissect what you do and say.

You get judged here, based on your audience’s perception and pre-conceived notions.

And ironically, the more connected that we become, the less connected we want to be.

It’s a vicious circle, and I’m curious how society is going to evolve.

Is social media becoming exhausting?

Yes. Yes, it is.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of SoMeDocs)

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Dana Corriel, MD

I haven’t LEFT medicine, I’m simply taking time to tackle its issues from a different angle. I’m stepping out of the traditional medicine box.

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All opinions published on SoMeDocs-Mag are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of SoMeDocs, its staff, or editors. Content on SoMeDocs is intended for informational and storytelling purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Readers should always seek the guidance of their own qualified healthcare professional regarding personal health or medical decisions. SoMeDocs is a magazine built with the safety of free expression and diverse perspectives in mind.

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