This short animated film by Shimi Cohen explores the paradox of our time: in an age when social media offers the chance to be heard, to interact, to share their experiences at the click of a button, why are so many people suffering from a deep sense of loneliness?
Cohen begins by looking at how other primates socialize. Monkeys, for example, tend to live in groups of between 20 and 50, ensuring that each member knows the others well. If a group becomes too large, it tends to split into two. This ensures the correct level of social interaction and bonding.
Sociologists estimate that humans function in much the same way; we are incapable of intimately knowing more than 150 people. But social media has changed the way we interact with the people in our lives, and as Cohen points out, “loneliness has become the most common ailment of the modern world.”
Does social media make you feel lonely? Do you try to keep your facebook friends to a minimum, or do you like to have as many followers as possible on social media? Let us know your thoughts on this short film in the comments.
