It’s no secret that we live in a disconnected world. You might have heard about something called a loneliness epidemic, where millions of people around the world feel lonelier than ever before. It’s reached the point where it’s considered a public health risk because of the consequences to people’s mental health that result from feeling so lonely.
The causes of loneliness are hard to pin down, but a lot of blame has been placed on modern technology and specifically screen time. Rather than spending time with each other in person, we instead fill our time with social media, television, games, and other activities where we’re completely alone. Even people who have friends and loved ones spend less quality time with them.
It’s a shame because a lot of this technology was actually designed to connect us. Social media even has the word “social” in the name, so why is it that screens seem to pull people apart? Or could it be that we’re simply using them wrong?
Let’s explore a few ways that we can enjoy screen time with other people and actually use it to bring each other together.
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Movie Nights
Movies have been around for over a century, although they look and sound very different now than they did when they were first invented. But they still remain a great way for friends and family to get together and take in a story together.
From classic movies that still capture the imagination to modern blockbusters and stories from different voices, it’s well worth exploring different films.
Going to the Cinema
The cinema isn’t as popular as it used to be, but this doesn’t mean it has to be a dying experience. It’s still often considered the best way to take in new and exciting blockbuster films, as the huge screens and incredible sound quality turn a film into a multisensory experience.
You don’t just have to watch new releases, either. You can find cinema showings of classic films as well, which can be a great way to get some fans together to enjoy it as it was designed to be enjoyed when it was first released.
Make a day of it. Get a meal together, either before or after the film, and definitely make sure to stick around afterwards so you can talk about the highlights (and maybe the lowlights) of the film.
Movie Nights In
Another, cheaper option is to take in your films at home. But this can still be an event if you plan it right. You can plan a themed movie night, where you dress up and eat food based around the film world, or just make it nice and classic with some popcorn, blankets, and fizzy drinks.
Just make sure to pick a film everyone will enjoy!
TV Binge Sessions
On a related note, you can spend a whole day or even a weekend binge-watching some television together. Some modern television shows are practically designed for it. For example, this year, Stranger Things threatens to crash the holiday season as people plan to catch up on the storyline and get together for the finale.
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The great thing about television is that there’s something for everyone, as long as you know where to stream it from. You can even find VPNs for streaming movies and shows, so if you can’t access something you really want to watch on a streaming service, you can find where it’s available in a different country.
As with a movie night in, don’t forget to include snacks, drinks, and potentially other activities, as well as watching television together. You should also decide in advance where this will be a “watch in silence to soak in the story” binge event, or a “comment and laugh along” event. Both are valid and very fun with the right company.
Gaming Together
Another way that screen time can bring people together, rather than pull them apart, is through gaming. Video games used to be a social activity. People would go to arcades and play games with other people or to compete for the highest score. While consoles and personal computers were a great development for gaming, they did rob some of this social wonder from the gaming scene.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t play games with other people. In fact, it can be a great way to experience stories and mechanics alike, or even build your own stories.
Online
The easiest way to play video games with other people is online. There are two main methods of doing this.
You can either play with strangers, which can be a lot of fun, but it can expose you to online trolls as well. You can meet new people this way, but sometimes you’ll play for hours without any real connections.
Or you can play with friends, either on massive online game servers as a team, or in a smaller server and just play with each other.
In Person
Before there was online gaming, there was split-screen. You can still play games in person, and it’s a massive amount of fun. Some modern games have brought back splitscreen co-op and competitive games alike, or you can play party games in a larger group.
If you are competitive, just try not to bring the fight into real life.
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Connecting With Family
Finally, while the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of feelings of loneliness, it did introduce a lot of people to video conferencing. Just because the lockdown is in the past, it doesn’t mean we can’t take away some of the good ideas as well.
If you have friends or family who live apart, you can use video conferencing to keep in touch. You can even watch films together, while seeing each other react in real time.
While it’s not the same as being in the same room, it can do a lot for feelings of loneliness, especially if you miss your loved ones.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash