Is a world driven by tech reducing our community connect? We need to strive for both, convenience as well as staying in touch. Find your balance.
We, in New Delhi, are most certainly living a life of convenience, more so perhaps than many key cities in developed nations. The evolution in technology and the ease with which it is being offered has made us all, the young and the old, simply pick up our phones to get things done, quickly and effectively. All from our homes.
Innovation and efficiency today is multiple carts on multiple apps, your phone buzzing with delivery OTPs and the eager or mostly mundane unpacking of parcels. A stroll close to home to collect groceries or daily needs has been replaced by Blinkit, Zepto or Amazon. Competitive pricing, extensive variety and a single click. Within 10mins, or on the same day or on the following day. Instant gratification, impatience and ease have taken over.
Simplified net banking and use of UPI transfers makes it all the easier for you to really never visit your bank. Medical consults, follow ups are available online as well. Why bother visiting your local chemist when you have specific apps or you can WhatsApp your prescription and pay with UPI. No need to talk to anyone. Let alone meet.
Couriers and parcels move within cities on apps like Porter and Urban Company and the like offer a variety of services, again in the convenience of your own home. Need to get a haircut or a massage, simply book your service. Your home is also doubling as your entertainment hub. When was the last time you made the effort to reach a movie hall? Today, right now, bad air? Let’s school from home.
With the air quality being what it is, traffic snarls and reduced patience, are we simply disconnecting from the world outside. What happens to human connection when life no longer requires us to step out?
Are we missing out on the human connection of simply smiling and acknowledging each other? Missing out on the small conversations with our local vendors – how’s business? How’s your family? What’s your recommendation? We are fast missing the subtle and nuanced human interaction and as we stay home, close ourselves in, effectively limiting ourselves from the world outside. Social interaction can also be viewed as ‘friction’ to eliminate. Why get into a conversation, explain what you are looking for, when without waste of time, you can add it to your cart and be done. Technology is incentivizing convenience over connection.
Micro interactions and occasions that could build comfort and empathy are reducing. Loneliness is rising. Tolerance to small chatter is reducing. Many mentioned feeling annoyed and irritated in exchanges that were very routine once. Or worse, anxiety and a feeling of being overwhelmed in a public setting is slowly but steadily creeping in!
Now someone can argue, this new style of living is a better use of time. We are all on the run, multi-tasking work, home, children, errands, fitness, hobbies and more. Time is precious and why not opt for convenience? Why wait in queues, and the works. The worldly experience is becoming more and more unsavoury.
Some of this may be relative to the stage and space of one’s personal life. For young adults and working professionals, the debate is milder. Their social connect is peaking on other fronts and tech offers necessary ease of life. Time is of the essence and online life ensures a healthy balance.
For older adults or the elderly, the argument could be different. For mental well-being, getting in your daily movement, daily dose of sunshine and to meet people. It is important to take a break from tech and step out. Perhaps say yes to all opportunities to stay active and interact. Technology cannot substitute for companionship and can certainly increase the risk of feeling isolated or lonely. But the shared risk could be the weakening of our individual community fabric as we stop showing up. When life in our little bubbles is perfect, why would we inconvenience ourselves? With this sense, our isolation would be complete.
Wherein lies the final solution? Abandon our new found tech enabled ease, or step out to ensure our community connect? Neither, but just simply reflect, look at our own lives more consciously, strike our own personal balance. What may work for you may not work for another. It’s perhaps good to stay mindful of ensuring enough face to face time with people, visits to public spaces that are relatively convenient and keeping some time to run errands, browsing down aisles and making casual banter. Remember connection is good for both mind and heart. Such social connect could be the regular game for golfers, for others it is that game of cards, or just going to the theatre or cinema halls. For the tippers, a responsible time out with friends and family. A regular visit to INA market, or whichever other is the personal favourite. Keep the curiosity going, keep newness on your cards, remain open to fresh air, keep the windows of the mind (and heart) open!
Being the last month of 2025, it is that time of the year, when new year resolves are being formulated. This could be one such. Thinking through our lives, our own balances, staying connected with the world outside.
