In the build-up to 2023, people have discovered and explored new ways of staying connected. Either as a result of the pandemic, or out of a need to step out of isolation, technology has enhanced people’s ability to connect and build relationships. However, studies show that despite the high levels of connectivity, large proportions of society remain feeling lonely.

Yiannis Gavrielides, co-founder of Covve, which is a technology and software company focused on helping people create meaningful relationships, spoke at Reflect Festival 2022, one of the MENA region’s most prestigious technology and innovation events, and highlighted the concern - “is technology is disrupting our social fabric?”. 

On one hand, technology such as social media has played a role in enhancing connectivity, but it has also contributed to a concerning shift in societal behavior. On the other hand, Yiannis shares that there are other technologies helping people stay connected with both their professional and personal relationships.

In his speech, Yiannis highlighted that even someone with the most popular social media profile can feel lonely. Simultaneously, however, he noted that technology can and has further enabled our ability to stay in touch. Most notably, the accelerated technological growth brought by Covid-19.

The lockdowns imposed by the pandemic ushered in technologies geared towards helping people stay in touch. As Yiannis states, “technology, although not a substitute, is a great enabler for connections. And technology came to our rescue during the pandemic… It brought my family together.

Video conferencing platforms are a great example of enabling real relationships. For Yiannis, they created the opportunity for his family to stay connected and feel present in each other’s lives. Technologies such as Zoom, Hopin, and Houseparty encouraged us to develop our relationships with friends and family. To put into perspective how many people leveraged technology to stay connected, over 300 million people used Zoom by April 2020.

The need to stay connected is attributed to keeping healthy, both mentally and physically. Yiannis highlighted that, “there are medical issues that are showing prevalence in lonely people. Sleeping disorders, weight problems and complications, substance use, neurological disorders and even kidney problems.”

So, why is it that loneliness is ever present in a hyper-connected world?

To understand this dynamic, Yiannis walked us through societal changes from the early 2000’s and the rise of social media. Connecting with friends and family across borders, and the ability to shape a unique social media presence was exciting, and enabled a “rapid proliferation of social media”. Yiannis highlighted the fact that 4.5 billion people use social media which has created new societal norms. New societal norms such as receiving likes and followers on social media, have become rewarding, and accumulating them is considered an achievement. 

Social media rose to prominence in the early 2010’s, affecting people born in “Gen Z” the most. According to Yiannis’ speech, they spend 20% of their time on social media. He continues to note that in Europe and in the US, people born in Gen Z spend more than 3 hours per day on social media. This is quite telling of the quality of connections and societal behavior fostered today, which is focused on people’s perceived value portrayed through their social media presence. 

“We consider it a personal interaction, the fact that we are looking at someone’s picture at the beach or watching a video, and we have no idea what’s going on in their head. We are lazily tapping to congratulate someone for an experience as important as changing their job.”

He continues to note a finding that indicates 79% of young adults today state feelings of loneliness. This means that despite the extent of connectivity we experience today, they are twice more likely to feel lonely.

He continues to note a finding that indicates 79% of young adults today state feelings of loneliness. This means that despite the extent of connectivity we experience today, they are twice more likely to feel lonely.

In society’s reconstruction of social life through social media, people have replaced the joy of genuine connection with that of instant gratification through ‘likes’ and ‘followers’. On the other hand, technology has created opportunities to connect even further with each other, and helps people nurture their precious social ties. Feeling content with social engagement requires effort in continuous cultivation of long lasting relationships beyond the screen in people’s pockets and on their desks.

It is paramount for society to shift its perspective from consuming technology to using it as a tool to empower people’s capacity and ability to communicate and connect. The value of connections must be attributed to reciprocal relationships, rather than transactional ones based on superficial interactions.