Virtual contact worse than no contact for over-60s in lockdown, says study

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/26/virtual-contact-worse-than-no-contact-for-over-60s-in-lockdown-says-study

by hdivider • 5 years ago

23 6 5 years ago

Darvokis• 5 years ago

I'm disappointed that the study focused on over-60's. I've felt extremely lonely since the pandemic started that I've only recently been able to counteract with in-person meeting with friends. Online contact doesn't make up for a lack of real-world social contacts in my experience. I was in a severe depression for much of the pandemic and I'm 30.

peakaboo• 5 years ago

I'm 45 and I was out meeting friends, going to restaurants, shopping through the entire pandemic. No mask of course either. Met my friends as usual.

Actually was a very nice year, because we could work remotely. No open offices was amazing.

doggodaddo78• 5 years ago

Irresponsible.

hdivider• 5 years ago

Agreed, it's just not the same. I bet the effect is present for the younger folks, or even exaggerated because so much of a younger person's life depends on serendipitous interactions. We don't get those with scheduled digital calls.

Hope you're better soon. Glad you can still meet with friends.

zyemuzu• 5 years ago

It is not surprising, I prefer virtual meetings with clients because I have to deal with them less.

jleyank• 5 years ago

I wonder whether this study was not careful enough to distinguish those who grew up with technology vs. wrestled with exposure late in life. Looking at people in their 60's, you have early adopters from their youth as well as those who were set in their careers before being exposed (probably via the IBM PC and its clones if at all). After net chats and other ancient technology, IRC and then video chats, my only stress with the technology was 'net overloads and dodgy software. I would think that's similar for others who started as kids. The only problem with phones was the cost of long-distance and things like MCI solved that one.

Virtual contact worse than no contact for over-60s in lockdown, says study

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