Lost in the Scroll: How Social Media Is Quietly Shaping (and Sometimes Ruining) Our Real-Life Relationships
When constant connection makes us feel more alone
There was a time when we made eye contact instead of checking who just posted a new story. When conversations flowed without the constant ping of notifications. When we met people and gave them our full attention, not just a quick glance between Instagram refreshes.
And I can say that we all agree that things are not like that anymore.
As a society, we've become tethered to screens. Social media, once a tool for connection, has become the main stage of our lives. And don’t get me wrong, I understand society have to move with technology and new inventions. I’m not saying that we should communicate sending letters to each other and moving by riding horses —even though I would love the letter’s part. Actually, I’m writing this thanks to one of those inventions. To let people that I don’t even know read from a screen something that I wrote from the other side of the world, in a language that is not even my first one. So yes, I’m aware and grateful for how many doors technology has open to many people in the world. But that doesn’t mean I’m not also aware about the dependence and consumerism this change create in our lives.
It’s addictive, no doubt. But more of that, it’s quietly consuming a very important and sacred part of our lives: Our Relationships.
We now spend more time editing a photo of a place we are instead of actually enjoying the moment. We chase likes instead of genuine moments. We might even compare our worth by online attention and perhaps feel jealous about someone’s feed. Like: Why didn’t I think of that before?
And let’s be honest: It’s exhausting. At least for me.
We crave and idealize the idea of love. The idea of having someone who support and feel amazed by our mere existence. But we’re constantly pulled into an artificial world and the prejudice that come along with it. Where everything is filtered and unreal. This type of world that we, as a society, had accepted, had created a lot of superficial and unrealistic high expectations, —that not even we can reach— about the “right” person we should find. No wonder why we feel lonelier even when we’re “connected” to hundred of thousands of people.
In conclusion. Social media isn’t entirely bad. But when it starts replacing the depth of our human interactions with surface-level engagement, it’s time to take a step back and ask ourselves: What are we really looking for?
Maybe it’s time to rediscover the magic of undistracted moments. Of fully showing up for people. Of choosing connection over content.
Because in a world that’s louder and faster than ever, the quiet beauty of real connection is becoming rare—but it’s still within reach. Because some of the best relationships—the ones that truly change us—are found when we’re present enough to notice them. Or maybe that’s just my opinion…
Love
Val