The Future of Human-Human Interactions

[JustSomeBloke]

Human-human interaction is quite important for Singles. Firstly, even the most introverted can get lonely sometimes. Secondly, for those looking for love and marriage, it sets the stage for how we might meet someone.

From another thread:

I think Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and similar, have totally replaced forums for many people, although forums do still seem to be popular for specific interests. Basically, all the people who were on forums more for the social side rather than the debate, have left, and not come back. I haven't logged into Facebook for years. To my mind it's an abomination, and I won't return without major reforms. And I resent that so many organisations ditched their conventional web presence, and now only exist on Facebook.

I can see very soon that what happened to forums will NOW happen to the big social media apps, as they all make way for the next platform. Instagram has already had its heyday and Facebook went south nearly a decade ago.

Maybe the next 'big thing' is actually living life itself, and rather than 'pretending' people are actually legitimately doing.

Video killed the radio, DVD killed the video, Netflix killed the DVD, now MAYBE with COVID rapping up, theatre and the west end will reign supreme once again.

Are we heading for a revival of real-life, face-to-face interactions? Might people who have got used to interacting in other ways during lockdowns be a little anxious about meeting people in real life? I can imagine those that have grown up with Facebook, and more recently Zoom, might find real life interactions strange and nerve-shredding.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Human-human interaction is quite important for Singles. Firstly, even the most introverted can get lonely sometimes. Secondly, for those looking for love and marriage, it sets the stage for how we might meet someone.

From another thread:





Are we heading for a revival of real-life, face-to-face interactions? Might people who have got used to interacting in other ways during lockdowns be a little anxious about meeting people in real life? I can imagine those that have grown up with Facebook, and more recently Zoom, might find real life interactions strange and nerve-shredding.

Real life interactions definitely require more patience. Its harder to multitask. And eye contact is another element that virtual does not provide well.

 

[ReesePiece23]

I do think it's entirely possible. And I'm absolutely seeing a social media decline and have been now for the last few years. YouTubers are constantly being demonetised, and Instagram shot itself in the foot by scrambling the algorithm and messing up the entire platform. TikTok just straight up sucks (honestly? Who uses it?) and Facebook has been dying a death for years now.

Speaking as someone from my age group, the therapeutic benefits of social interaction are GOING to feel good for those who have deprived themselves for a long time. I know what it feels like to go from a hermit racked with insecurities one minute, to a free-flowing globe trotter the next; it's mind altering in all of the right ways. And any previous reservations you had disappear very quickly once you've warmed to the waters - it's just a question really of how many people are ready to brace the short sharp (initial) shock of reintroducing themselves.

^ That, plus my old job was all about self-isolation. I've been in and out of self-isolation in various forms my entire life. Real life social interaction becomes 'the drug' once you know the best places to go. Absolutely nothing replaces it. Even for an introvert like me, a buzzing social life was (and still is) the greatest high. And I think more people will start to recognise this, and will want to absorb the moment more without yanking their phones out every five minutes to update their story.

It's the kids in their early 20s of whom might struggle. I was fortunate enough to have spliced between two generations. I know what it means to put 20p into a phone box and say "I'll see you there at eight, down by the harbour" without any further contact - BUT, I'm also android proficient. So I literally can't imagine what it must be like to have never experienced life pre-millennium, or even the first half of the 2000s. All of my old habits would still be there, I don't need to learn them like a 19/20 year old would.

And I don't think teenagers today are as confident as the teenagers of my era - and I think a lot of it is down to being SO desensitised. I mean, we'd catch an episode of Brookside back in the day, rattle off a few Jimmy Corkhill quotes, and we'd be jolly happy for it. Teens today are just so spoilt for choice. And porn passed most of us by because we never had the nerve to ask the newsagent to get the ladder out. But now...

The scary thing is, I'm not even that old. This dependency has happened literally within the last decade. Perhaps COVID was sent to shake us up? I don't think life is necessarily 'better' for having all of these apps. In many ways, the old days were better.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

Real life interactions definitely require more patience. Its harder to multitask. And eye contact is another element that virtual does not provide well.

I've heard that youngsters sometimes prefer messaging on WhatsApp to voice calls. Apparently they like being able to continue conversations with several people all at once.

I do think it's entirely possible. And I'm absolutely seeing a social media decline and have been now for the last few years. YouTubers are constantly being demonetised, and Instagram shot itself in the foot by scrambling the algorithm and messing up the entire platform. TikTok just straight up sucks (honestly? Who uses it?) and Facebook has been dying a death for years now.

I always thought that young people leave social media platforms when their parents or people their parents age join. I'm guessing it's not very cool when your uncle or aunt starts viewing and liking your posts. If true, then it's an endless search for the next place to hangout online. Life was much more simple when people used to hangout in real life.

Speaking as someone from my age group, the therapeutic benefits of social interaction are GOING to feel good for those who have deprived themselves for a long time. I know what it feels like to go from a hermit racked with insecurities one minute, to a free-flowing globe trotter the next; it's mind altering in all of the right ways. And any previous reservations you had disappear very quickly once you've warmed to the waters - it's just a question really of how many people are ready to brace the short sharp (initial) shock of reintroducing themselves.

I'm still waiting for stuff like Salsa to restart. For me, online is really quite boring compared to real life. And I'm not even very extroverted. Those who love parties must have been tearing their hair out for the last year, and sadly some of them are no longer with us because they couldn't handle the isolation of lockdown.

And I think more people will start to recognise this, and will want to absorb the moment more without yanking their phones out every five minutes to update their story.

That's social media for you. People are addicted to carefully curating a record of the 1% of their life that looks amazing. The so-called influencers take that to the extreme.

It's the kids in their early 20s of whom might struggle. I was fortunate enough to have spliced between two generations. I know what it means to put 20p into a phone box and say "I'll see you there at eight, down by the harbour" without any further contact - BUT, I'm also android proficient. So I literally can't imagine what it must be like to have never experienced life pre-millennium, or even the first half of the 2000s. All of my old habits would still be there, I don't need to learn them like a 19/20 year old would.

I think people were less likely to cancel at short notice back then too.

 

[sampa]

Human-human interaction is quite important for Singles. Firstly, even the most introverted can get lonely sometimes. Secondly, for those looking for love and marriage, it sets the stage for how we might meet someone.

From another thread:





Are we heading for a revival of real-life, face-to-face interactions? Might people who have got used to interacting in other ways during lockdowns be a little anxious about meeting people in real life? I can imagine those that have grown up with Facebook, and more recently Zoom, might find real life interactions strange and nerve-shredding.

My observations so far has been people who weren't always that happy are super happy now seeing each other.
Examples I have observed are the first time seeing most of us in person for Bible study class. It was so nice to see different people in the studies reactions when the study leader asked if there were any questions, instead of having to swipe on my phone this way and that way to see. We couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear seeing each other in person.

My department section that has 13 to 14 people in it has been at 40% capacity right now. The conversations have been very upbeat and happy with those that have been there. Right now supervisors are 100% there while next week non-supervisory will have to be back 50%. In July it will be 100%. I'm very carefully interacting with those that had to stay during the whole pandemic and didn't get to work remotely.

And then now I have seen the online dating world quadruple in numbers. I think a lot of people feel more free with the vaccinations and restrictions being lifted. I've read that because of the pandemic more people with online dating will be looking for long-term relationships because being isolated increased the desire to be with someone. We'll see how this all last and if the kindness trend I'm seeing now will continue.

 

[sampa]

Are we heading for a revival of real-life, face-to-face interactions?

Although I answered this at one point in time, I have a few adjustments in my answers. I really think it's a combination. At a departmental meeting that we had icebreaker questions concerning communication preferences, I answered a variety. Whether it be text, email, Microsoft teams, phone calls, or face-to-face. Since our return to work I have utilized more methods of communication then I had pre-pandemic. I'm now texting pictures of things out in the field and connecting with others by phone whereas I might have waited till I got back and looked for that person. My connections have been stronger across the distances because of utilizing many methods of communication. I've been trying to Foster relationships with people that are mostly field oriented by getting volunteers as contacts for a wellness insurance plan that we have. It's growing and I'm hoping that it will continually grow. If I get a chance to meet that person in person, I try to make that connection. Also one of my coworkers that is in the cubicle next to me, was thinking me sometime ago about organizing team meetings with her as a wellness check in. Now we see each other mostly everyday in our conversations flow and are stronger because of that effort that I put in when we couldn't see each other in person for a year and a half working remotely.

And to add to this, with social media I have been able to cultivate an image that draws people from my workplace into conversation. It has made me more prominent than I was in the past and connected or with those in leadership positions. Which has acted as a benefit in my workplace. Whereas in the past, my quietness and lack of conversation could have been taken as snobbiness and misunderstandings.

My department section that has 13 to 14 people in it has been at 40% capacity right now. The conversations have been very upbeat and happy with those that have been there. Right now supervisors are 100% there while next week non-supervisory will have to be back 50%. In July it will be 100%. I'm very carefully interacting with those that had to stay during the whole pandemic and didn't get to work remotely.

An update on the euphora that everybody was experiencing when we first came back to work or Bible study, of course that has worn off. One thing I have noticed is there is a major adjustment for those that worked remotely and the habits they developed during that time whether with music playing or video chats with their grandchildren. Some of those things are continuing, so it has been an adjustment for me. Also since the policy is kind of a don't ask don't tell type of covid, when someone disappears or any length of time there is an uneasiness in the atmosphere. Whereas when we were remote, there was a feeling of protection and less resentment or suspicion of others.

And then now I have seen the online dating world quadruple in numbers. I think a lot of people feel more free with the

As far as the online dating world, I took a break being on multiple sites for 4 months.. and last night I saw a lot of activity. But it also could be the effect of all the new members that came during the time I was gone. I kind of think the pandemic has made people want to meet more in person and an urgency towards marriage. I've seen at least two marriages happen from online dating within the pandemic period.

On an additional note, I do think there is a craving to me in person. My last Bible study group that I recently started with women, at the end one of the women said I really want us to meet in person. I couldn't respond because the reason I had joined that zo group is because I was taking precautions of covid-19 and couldn't attend my regular Sunday Bible study. But I could see the craving and desire that she had to see everyone three dimensionally.

 

[HisGraceAbounds]

I'm an introvert and shut-away by my nature, so the extended lockdown has been an interesting time for me. Finally, some folks are getting to see the world through my lens, and they see how ugly the view is.

Ahem.

Pardon me.

I've noticed how people are interacting with each other now, and there are marked differences. For example, I am getting many more requests for in-person meetings from students than ever before. I am not known for being an approachable person. My body language and overall demeanor is guarded and unfriendly. These things don't seem to matter now.

I've also noticed, much to my objections, that women are looking in my direction with much more frequency than they ever have before. It's as though I suddenly became someone 'attractive' to women. Too late. Besides, I have enough discomfort concerning women and how to interact with them on a level where I can earn their respect without having to play a role for them.