One writer’s opinion on escapism and connectivity in the digital age.
Michelle Wong, Contributor
Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, The U.S. Inauguration, Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Justin Trudeau resigning? The never-ending stream of news from all the different platforms we have on our phones—people posting on Instagram, reposting on TikTok, and even when we open Google, news articles are recommended. It’s all so overwhelming and like a constant wave washing onto us. Living in this endless information cycle, when does all this become too much? How disconnected should we be from the events around us; is it escapism or survival?
We were often told to stay informed about the events around us, that we should be aware of what was happening, and that we should learn from them. I never once questioned the teachers, yet recently, the need to disconnect became stronger than ever. Disconnect from what though? Not to mention, there has been an increase in people talking about the need for a mental detox, that it should be something we practice regularly. So, what should we do?
If you take some time to think, the word “connected” is so heavily intertwined with technology—that you are only connected through technology and without it, you are disconnected. Just as you would be with the wifi or the signals when making a call. However, is the only way to relate to the events and the people around us, via technology? According to the Oxford Dictionary, to be connected means to be “brought together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established.” We are connected to everything in our lives and if one truly wishes to disconnect, they will have to not only disconnect from their technology but from the people around them as well.
Now, I am not telling you to cut off ties with people. Whether to stay connected or to disconnect is a decision entirely up to you, dear readers. In a society where only, negative news is being broadcasted, it is important though to log off virtually, socially and physically now and then to prioritize your mental health. When you feel that the world is too loud, that everything is too much and you are overwhelmed, perhaps that is the time for you to disconnect. Taking back to the question of whether it is escapism or survival, the author is here to answer you that it is both. To escape is to survive in these chaotic times and sometimes to prioritize ourselves, escaping is the only choice we have. It is not a bad thing at all! Rather, it is good that you know when to take a step back and focus on yourself. As per the level of disconnectedness, find the balance and do what feels best for you. There is no right or wrong when it comes to prioritizing one’s well-being. So dear readers, I advise you to occasionally log off not just from social media, but from the world around us.
Photo Credit: Aiden Fung
