CREDITS
By Dr Melané Van Zyl
How meaningful are the relationships we build online? We are social beings, and we need to feel connected. A lack of social action can lead to depression and even early death. On the other hand, we know that the longer we spend on social media every day, the more depressed we become. So, does social media help fulfil our need for social interaction, or does it make us feel more isolated?
I have been pondering whether social media represents the feminine principle. In Jungian psychology, the feminine principle includes characteristics such as emotional intelligence, unconditional love, and nurturing.
No matter how niche your interests are, there is sure to be a social media group with a similar interest. Businesses show that they care about their customers by interacting with them online. People seem to find comfort in a social media group where they are accepted and understood. These nurturing characteristics are similar to the feminine principle. We show our support with likes and emoticons.
At the same time, we know that social media is big business. Social media posts include planning, budgeting, analysing, etc. social media posts are all masculine functions. The masculine principles balance out the feminine traits of social media.
In our fast-paced, increasingly technologically driven world, social media does give a sense of community.
The question I want to leave the reader and myself with is:
Do I love as much in the offline world as I do online?