Published: 11:08 PM, 08 September 2026
We Must Not Allow Social Media to Make Us Unsocial
Sanjana Bilkis Noor
In the modern world, social media has become an inseparable part of everyday life. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X have transformed the way people communicate, share information and maintain relationships. A person sitting in Dhaka can instantly communicate with someone living thousands of kilometres away. News travels across the world within seconds, and friendships can be maintained despite distance. Yet, beneath these remarkable advantages lies an alarming contradiction: while social media promises to bring people closer, it can sometimes make us increasingly unsocial in real life.
The irony is difficult to ignore. People may have hundreds or even thousands of online friends, followers and contacts, but many struggle to have a meaningful conversation with the person sitting beside them. Families often sit together at the dining table while each member remains absorbed in a separate smartphone screen. Friends meet at restaurants but spend much of their time photographing food, recording videos or checking notifications instead of talking to one another. In this way, a technology designed to connect human beings can gradually weaken genuine human interaction.
Social media itself is not the enemy. The real problem is how we use it. Like any powerful tool, it can be beneficial or harmful depending on the habits of its users. Social networking sites help people stay in touch with relatives abroad, support educational activities, promote businesses, spread emergency information and give individuals opportunities to express their ideas. During natural disasters or other crises, social media can even help people locate missing persons, share warnings and organise assistance.
However, excessive and careless use can have serious social consequences. Many users constantly check their phones for likes, comments, messages and notifications. This habit can become so powerful that being disconnected for even a short time feels uncomfortable. Instead of enjoying the present moment, people become preoccupied with documenting it for an online audience. A family outing becomes a photo session; a birthday becomes a collection of posts; and a conversation is interrupted repeatedly by the sound of a notification.
Another troubling development is the decline of face-to-face communication. Real conversation requires patience, attention and empathy. It teaches us to listen, understand facial expressions and respond appropriately to another person's feelings. Online communication often removes these important elements. A short message can easily be misunderstood because it lacks tone and body language. Arguments that might have been resolved through a calm conversation can become much more serious when carried out through comments and messages.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to this problem. Childhood and adolescence are important periods for developing communication skills, confidence and emotional intelligence. If young people spend most of their free time interacting through screens, they may have fewer opportunities to develop meaningful relationships in the physical world. Some may become uncomfortable speaking in person, while others may measure their self-worth by the number of likes or followers they receive.
There is also the danger of comparing our lives with the carefully selected images presented by others. Social media often shows people's happiest moments, finest clothes, expensive holidays and successful achievements, while hiding their failures, loneliness and struggles. Constant exposure to such idealised images can create unrealistic expectations. A person may begin to believe that everyone else is happier, richer or more successful. This can lead to dissatisfaction with one's own life and encourage people to seek online approval rather than genuine happiness.
Furthermore, social media can create an illusion of participation without real involvement. Clicking a “like” button may feel like supporting a cause, but genuine social responsibility requires more than a digital gesture. Helping a neighbour, visiting an elderly relative, volunteering in the community or simply listening to someone who is struggling demands time and personal effort. A society cannot remain strong if its members are connected only through screens.
The solution, however, is not to reject technology. It is to establish a healthy balance between our digital and real lives. Individuals should learn to use social media consciously rather than allowing algorithms and notifications to control their attention. Families can establish phone-free periods, especially during meals and important conversations. Schools can teach students about responsible digital citizenship, online etiquette and the importance of maintaining healthy relationships outside the internet.
Most importantly, we must rediscover the value of human presence. A genuine smile cannot be replaced by an emoji. A heartfelt conversation cannot always be reduced to a series of messages. A friend's comforting presence during a difficult time is more valuable than dozens of online reactions. Technology should strengthen these relationships, not substitute for them.
Parents, teachers and community leaders also have an important role to play. Young people learn from the behaviour of adults. If parents themselves remain constantly attached to their phones, simply telling children to reduce screen time will have little effect. Adults must demonstrate that conversations, books, outdoor activities, hobbies and community involvement are equally important parts of life.
Social media has undoubtedly changed the world, and it is here to stay. The challenge before us is therefore not whether we should use it, but whether we can use it without losing the qualities that make us human. We must remember that having thousands of digital connections does not necessarily mean having meaningful relationships.
The purpose of communication is ultimately to understand and care for one another. If social media helps us achieve that, it is a blessing. If it causes us to ignore the people around us, it becomes a burden. We must therefore use technology as a bridge, not as a wall. Let us remain connected online—but never at the cost of becoming disconnected from the people and communities around us.
Sanjana Bilkis Noor studies Business
Administration in Southeast
University, Dhaka.
