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The Unseen Impact of Virtual Social Interactions on Mental Health

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The Importance of Social Interactions

Mental health was once a taboo subject, however now it is making headline news. There are many celebrities and other famous personalities that have admitted to struggling with this illness. Humans are naturally social creatures and even the most severe introverts need to have occasional social contact with others. Social interactions are vital for mental and physical wellbeing. Studies have shown that individuals that benefit from meaningful relationships, whether it be with a partner, family members, friends, or even work colleagues tend to have fewer mental and physical health problems. 

Individuals who are lonely or feel socially isolated tend to suffer from mental issues such as depression, poor physical health and there is an increased chance that they will have a shorter lifespan than their socially active counterparts.

Not only do social activities provide individuals with a sense of belonging and improve the quality of life, research has indicated that socialising has many positive benefits. Loneliness causes stress which can increase the occurrence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, a weakened immune system, a decline in cognitive abilities, and encourages bad lifestyle habits. 

Regular social interactions with individuals who have good lifestyle habits can influence an individual’s own choices as well as stimulating brain functions and fostering a sense of belonging to a community which helps to build self esteem and gives life a purpose.

Understanding the Shift Towards Virtual Socializing 

Before the internet we spent time physically with other individuals, however as our universe becomes more digitised, there is a tendency to seek online options for socialising. One event that had an enormous impact on how socialise was the lockdown that was imposed on us as a result of Covid-19. Introverts did not see much difference in how their lives were affected, if anything they no longer had to worry about unwanted social interactions. However the extroverts in society increasingly began to feel isolated and strove to find a solution to remove their feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Society was forced to stay within the walls of their homes, children learned remotely, work was either suspended or conducted from home and virtual forms of communication such as Zoom meetings and Microsoft Teams became one of the most common forms of communication. To satisfy social needs, there was an increase of time spent on social platforms and online gaming. Individuals missed talking to others and these platforms gave individuals the opportunity to virtually socialise which helped them to combat the challenges of being deprived of social contact. 

When restrictions were lifted, something interesting happened; instead of returning to old social habits, there was an increase in virtual social socializing as individuals enjoyed the convenience and opportunity to continue interacting with their virtual friends from around the world. 

Lockdown also caused an increased feeling of social awkwardness; many people found it difficult to form direct relationships preferring the convenience, efficiency, and easy accessibility of communicating virtually. It takes much less effort to turn on a smartphone and chat with friends than physically travelling to meet up with an individual.

Exploring the Psychological Effects of Prolonged Virtual Interaction

Virtual interactions have become one of the most mainstream ways of interacting. The average person will check their smartphone at least one hundred times a day as they fear that they may miss an update if they are not constantly connected to their virtual world. There are negative and positive effects from prolonged social interaction. It can help to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation providing individuals a medium where they can interact with like minded individuals around the world. Online communities give individuals a sense of self worth and a feeling of belonging.

However, virtual interactions can also have negative effects such as making it difficult for individuals to create direct connections and communicate effectively in real life situations. Becoming solely dependent on the virtual mediums for social interactions can also cause anxiety and stress when users do not receive responses to their input or worry about how their digital persona is perceived by other online users.

Expert Insights on Maintaining Mental Well-being in Digital Social Environments

As individuals spend increased amounts of time online interacting with virtual environments experts have begun researching the effects that these interactions have on users. Digital activities can trigger the release of Dopamine (the natural feel good drug) however it also creates a feedback loop that can have negative effects on a person’s health such as anxiety, depression, problems sleeping, or even physical ailments where the connection between the brain and body can create tremors, nausea, and headaches. 

There is no way to escape digital social environments, they can be enjoyed responsibly so that mental well-being is maintained. Setting limits of how much time you spend online engaging in social interactions is crucial. Use time spent online to engage in meaningful interactions and actively manage the feed of digital content that you come into contact with.

Take time away from screens and engage in meaningful activities such as mindfulness where relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and mediation will recharge the mind and body allowing them to disconnect from the digital universe for much needed breaks.

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Online gaming is an extremely social experience especially when you play the live dealer games or live game shows. These offerings are streamed from specially designed studios with real props or even from real live casinos floors. Real time chat functions enable gamers to interact in real time with the live real professional dealer or game show host as well as the other players or contestants. Enjoy meaningful social interactions with other like minded players in an authentic casino atmosphere that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home, or on the go.

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Tips for Creating Meaningful Connections in Virtual Spaces

As we become increasingly connected virtually, the importance of creating meaningful connections has become of paramount importance. Adults spend an average of seven hours each day in some type of virtual space. Our smartphones are never out of reach. Our work and spare time is increasingly spent connected to the internet. Studies during the Covid-19 pandemic revealed that interactions can be just as enriching in a virtual environment as they are when individuals physically communicate with each other.

Treat virtual interactions in the same way as you would a physical meeting. Use online time to engage in conversations that matter and use the time to share ideas and experiences or engage in leisure activities that will be beneficial to both parties. When used responsibly, the benefits of virtual social interactions far outweigh any negative aspects associated with virtual communication.

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