Beyond The Screens: How Social Media Alters Human Relationships and Real-World Interactions

Abstract

The introduction of social media and its rapid proliferation has brought significant shifts to the human race. From writing letters manually, we are now thriving in a society, where interaction can be completed within a fraction of time. There is complete acceptance of its presence, in almost every domain of our functionable lives. However, with huge strides taken by social media in recent times, we are witnessing how it proves to alter human relationships and interactions. This study aims to investigate in interpreting how social media and its expansion, lays an exerting force over human relationships and interactions situated in real-world scenarios. Amongst all the competing factors, this investigation, specifically focuses to study the FOMO effect, mental health implications, social alienation and detachment and establishment of false or stereotypical self-views. The competing study suggests that these factors are increasingly impacting how humans interact. It has tainted communication with stress, anxiety, detachment from reality, isolation, withdrawal, and the need to affiliate with virtual social affirmation. By integrating these factors, the study aims to build psychological, social, emotional and cognitive alterations amongst human interactions and relationships, due to social media.