My thoughts..
Much of this is because we're given computers and mobile devices and social networks, and expect it to be the hassle free replacement for "connecting" and "socializing", when in actuality you're hardly connecting with someone at all. It gets us out of practice with real interaction, at least with new people. Before all this, people were forced to do it. If they didn't push themselves to initiate with others, there was nothing else, they'd simply be alone..everyone, so people were much more practiced in just..speaking up. Greeting, asking, complimenting. And it wasn't weird. Now people can comfortably keep to themselves wherever they go, just interacting when they need to, because they always bank on being able to go home and flip on the computer or phone and still be in touch with their world, but it's not the same. In a sense, it's really still just being alone, because the only interactions that are meaningful and imprint in your memory, and keep you from feeling lonely are the ones where experiences are physically shared. You don't remember further down the road something that happened over a computer. Even if it was something hysterical, because you didn't say it, you didn't see or hear them laugh. It wasn't "shared", it was all just text on a screen. Memories are made in the company of others. And when you can update people on everything in your life via facebook, it leaves nothing left to curiosity if and when you do meet up with friends or significant others. It eliminates much mystery and intrigue. There are a lot of lonely people out there that are stuck in that place because they keep banking on their text conversations and social media to bring them out of a difficult place, when the only thing that will is putting it down and going out and spending time with others... In a real, human to human capacity.
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