Over the last decade, physical socialisation has taken a back seat. Teenagers, especially, have started to meet with their friends online, rather than in person. This essay discusses the reasons for this change in preference and suggests solutions to foster in-person meetings.
In the last few years, smartphones, headphones and other digital devices have become cheaper than ever before. Due to these rock-bottom prices, parents have become more receptive to the idea of teenagers having their own mobile devices. Furthermore, schools have also begun to assign homework directly to the student’s device. This has pushed even the more orthodox parents to give in and buy their teenager a smartphone. Video conferencing and social media services, which are traditionally free of charge, have become popular among these young adults. This increased convenience of meeting friends, who stay elsewhere in the city, right from the comfort of the bedroom, has convinced them to switch to this method of socialising. Another major factor is the minimal effort required to set up a call: it only takes the average teenager about two minutes and a couple of clicks. These attributes have all combined to steer the preference of teenagers towards online meetings.
This practice, howevr, is very unhealthy. Such low amounts of in person encounters has proved to be the leading cause of clinical depression. There are a few measures that can be taken to encourage more in-person socialisation among teenagers. Setting a daily screen-time limit can prove to be instrumental in getting them off the screen. Providing them with an allowance to spend with friends – at restaurants, arcades and bowling alleys, for example – can encourage them to step out of their homes and actually meet people face-to-face. Lastly, arranging simple events for teenagers and their friends, like picnics and sleep-overs, can help them spend more time with their friends offline.