Connecting in a Disconnected Time
The internet has been a really positive development for communication, especially during this pandemic, because while we are all self-isolating and trying to remain as cautious as possible, many of us are also experiencing the anxiety and loneliness of being away from our friends and loved ones. Without the internet, it would be so much harder for us to stay connected to those we love and appreciate. Things like FaceTime or Skype are online apps that allow us to talk face to face with our friends and family, without exposing ourselves to the potential risks that Covid-19 poses. Social media sites also allow us to follow the news and stay up to date on whats going on in our social circles and the world more generally, which is important during this time of uncertainty.
This question comes at a good time for me, (or a bad time depending on how you look at it) because I actually have Covid-19 right now and will have been locked in my room for over two weeks by the time I am allowed to go out without risking infecting others. I can’t even imagine what I would do without access to the internet over the last week. I have been pretty miserable and fatigued the entire time, but when I’m not sleeping the boredom is CRAZY! Luckily, I have a great group of friends and family who keep in touch with my on a daily basis to see how I am doing. We use FaceTime to chat for hours sometimes, and being able to see someones face and talk to them makes me feel a little less alone each day. I have also been using my computer to try to read online, although I rarely get through more than a couple of pages at a time. Still, the internet has been crucial in serving my need for human connection during the last week, and I am grateful that everyone around me has been so willing to use it for this purpose.
