The world is collectively holding its breath for the release of Apple’s new augmented reality glasses. Soon those who can snag a pair will experience a virtual world superimposed on their everyday view. The glasses will read eye movements to add additional information to what the wearer sees through the lenses. They’ll be able to see maps overlaid onto their surroundings, find out more information about merchandise while perusing retail establishments, quickly identify plants they encounter, play tutorials while doing crafts, and more.
Information from the digital world is already at our fingertips, and now, it’ll be right in front of our eyes. Situational stigma will no longer be a barrier for accessing the internet. The previous faux pas of staring at one’s phone under the table at dinner will be gone – now it’ll be possible to browse Reddit while reaching for the mashed potatoes.
Augmented reality glasses are an exciting innovation, but they’re also a prescription for trouble. They’re indicative of a larger, more distressing trend: the rise of smart devices is causing us to become more and more connected.
A glance around will show how integrated the digital world is into our own. Pedestrians narrowly dodge automobiles on busy metropolitan streets with their chins tucked, eyes glued to their devices. College students in lecture halls switch between their notes, messaging platforms, the weather, and ordering lunch from Chipotle. Teenagers sit together at restaurants wordlessly scrolling Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Toddlers are learning how to play YouTube videos before they learn how to walk. Facebook has a mission statement of “making the world more open and connected,” and they sure have delivered.
The inventions of technologies such as Snapstreaks, endless scrolling, likes, and using the most attention-grabbing color for notifications (red) keep us coming back for more. The average American checks their phone 344 times a day. A year ago that number was 262. The increase is scary, but what’s scarier is where we might be headed.
Today, one might feel like something is amiss if they don’t have phone in pocket, smart watch on wrist, AirPods in ears, and they haven’t asked Alexa what the weather is before heading out the door. Someday though, it might even become the norm to implant devices in our brains. In such a world, the internet might become an inseparable part of us, impossible to turn off. It could provide a subconscious stream of information that alters our instincts. People might have implicit knowledge of pop culture trends, unknowingly altering their behavior to fit in. Juries might give harsher sentences to defendants on different days depending on how scary the news headlines are that day. Adolescents might commit crimes, believing them to be normal because they subconsciously receive news that celebrities are committing similar acts. With each progressive leap of technology, we become more and more connected, rushing towards a world in which our identities and decisions aren’t our own.
“But humans are social creatures!” one might argue. “Is it not better to be more connected?” It’s true that loneliness can cause a whole range of health issues: from high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity, to a weakened immune system, and even anxiety and depression. However, being alone doesn’t need to be lonely. Being alone is when your thoughts are your own – you’re without input from the minds of others. Being lonely only happens when someone feels negatively about this solitude. Alone time is actually healthy and necessary.
Solitude provides a space free from additional ideas from others, where previous ideas can be synthesized into something new. Famous philosophers, poets, novelists, and thinkers throughout history such as Kant, Descartes, and Locke have been known to spend long hours alone, channeling their creativity. Abraham Licoln also spent the summers of his Presidency in isolation in a small cottage to provide space to think more clearly about the Civil War.
Isolation also allows for social recharge. People aren’t meant to constantly be socially engaged. People report that the activities which they feel most rested after tend to be the ones which are done alone. We need time to decompress.
Solitude helps people understand themselves. It provides the space needed to reflect on what matters to us. This helps us process emotions, and informs us of the values that form the core of our identities. We lead ourselves while alone: we decide what we want to do with our time, and we learn what we like. Teens tend to feel less self-conscious when they’re on their own, since they have space to discover themselves, free from judgement from others.
Being alone also helps form the basis for strong relationships. When we enjoy spending time alone, friendships are maintained because we really enjoy someone else’s company, and not just because we don’t want to be alone on a Friday night. “Distance makes the heart grow fonder” also applies – separation helps us appreciate connection all the more.
Growing numbers of people are using connectedness as a way of distracting themselves from their own thoughts. More and more previously sacred moments of solitude are being stolen by our digital devices: traveling on the train, walking to the store, waiting in line, and the list goes on.
The effects are devastating. Today’s youth are more connected than ever before, and they’re suffering immensely for it. University mental health professionals noticed a drastic increase in mental health disorders as soon as smartphones became commonplace. Depression, anxiety, and suicide have shot up at a terrifying rate. The more time that youth spend with eyes glued to their screens, the less likely they are to be happy. In fact, youths are most likely addicted to their devices. Many use it right before falling asleep, and first thing in the morning upon waking up, feeling anxious when separated from it.
We’ve become so accustomed to a world of connectedness that we no longer feel comfortable spending time with ourselves. We’re so used to distraction that we feel anxious and depressed when we’re left with only our own thoughts.
But it’s not too late. Acknowledging the danger of connectedness is the first step. We can take back our solitude. Augmented reality glasses don’t need to be rose-tinted. Let’s put our phones down and power off our devices. Go touch some grass, journal, do crafts, take yourself on a date, cook a meal, learn a new skill. It’s time to spend some time alone.