The Paradox of Connection

Photographer: Roman Melnychuk

Writing: Clara

Connection in the social media landscape is a paradox to me.

I have hundreds of connections across my personal social media platforms. I have access to many parts of the world through the internet. Why, then, do I have so many moments of loneliness? Does access to people equate connection?

When we are portraying ourselves online, we are creating our data doubles. Codified and curated versions of ourselves, that fit a quantifiable algorithmic metric. The gap between our data doubles and our human selves are nuanced, varied, and expansive. When our data doubles are connected to each other, does it mean that our human selves are too?

How do we define connection? How many of my instagram followers could I text right now if I got a truly gut wrenching text or an email? How do we quantify good connections?

A feeling of safety. It is a gut feeling. People I feel safe and secure around, people who love me as a human being and not my performance metrics. They are my community.

I encourage you to reach out to people you truly feel loved by, and foster deeper connections in your life.