Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Anti-Social Media The above title is not an error. What we call social media has a huge anti-social impact on our lives, our children, our home and work environment. Computers have changed our life for the better in many ways. Most of society at large cannot imagine not having computers. People who do not use them are considered dinosaurs. I must admit that my professional life as a doctor was totally different before computers took over every aspect of it. As a doctor, I am definitely more efficient, more detailed, I can provide a wider spectrum of educational materials to my patients and refer them to links about their medical problems. I also appreciate on-line contacts with my peers, who sometimes exist in different time zones or even continents. We talk' on-line exchanging difficult diagnoses, options for treatments and such. I know some of my patients appreciated tele-visits during the pandemic and the fact that we can send their prescriptions to a pharmacy in a matter of one click. I hope you understand my position and acceptance of all the computer superior work in our times. However, computers and networks created an enormous monster of impersonal contacts, screen addiction, and, as a result, lack of social contacts in person. Kids these days get cell phones before they go to school. They do not use them as phones to call mom or dad. They use them to access media, games, movies, networks, often not really appropriate for children. Yes, parents can have some limitations placed on the devices and they can monitor them, but who has time 24/7 to verify what your teenager is doing at school, after school, or even at night in their room. Adults pay bills on the phone, post pictures on the media, receive feed from thousands of unwanted senders. The number of 'blind' interactions is overwhelming and distractive. You cannot distinguish true from false, desired information from trash. Many people keep checking their phones every 5-10 minutes and cannot focus on their work, tasks at home, or even conversations. We see occasional cartoons with six family members sitting at the dinner table, with food on their plates, and all of them are holding a phone, texting each other rather than talking to each other. While it might be funny at first sight, it is truly very sad. That is our world today. Social media became a driver of anti- social behavior. People, especially young people, are lonely. They do not need to go outside to play. They play in the walls of their rooms. They text or snapchat their friends. No human contact or interaction is needed to get gossip out. There is also no accountability for what is spread around. Words are harmful. People get depressed. They go on-line and look for options for their depression. What they may find is questionable as well, but they do not even realize that. Loneliness and depression became a national crisis. Some countries, like United Kingdom and Japan, funded a new government unit, Secretary for Loneliness, and assigned a new budget to fight cases of depression and loneliness. This is not a joke. The world is suffering from a mental crisis that humans imposed on themselves. And the only way to target it is to counter anti- social factors, like so called social media. So, while you may enjoy the efficiency of your computer, look into your own family, home, workplace, and make this Holiday Season social. Get out of the walls and Instagram and talk to your neighbors, talk to the mailman or UPS guy. Go to the store and greet people in line to the real cashier and not a self-check out. Be truly social. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Anti - Social Media The above title is not an error . What we call social media has a huge anti - social impact on our lives , our children , our home and work environment . Computers have changed our life for the better in many ways . Most of society at large cannot imagine not having computers . People who do not use them are considered dinosaurs . I must admit that my professional life as a doctor was totally different before computers took over every aspect of it . As a doctor , I am definitely more efficient , more detailed , I can provide a wider spectrum of educational materials to my patients and refer them to links about their medical problems . I also appreciate on - line contacts with my peers , who sometimes exist in different time zones or even continents . We talk ' on - line exchanging difficult diagnoses , options for treatments and such . I know some of my patients appreciated tele - visits during the pandemic and the fact that we can send their prescriptions to a pharmacy in a matter of one click . I hope you understand my position and acceptance of all the computer superior work in our times . However , computers and networks created an enormous monster of impersonal contacts , screen addiction , and , as a result , lack of social contacts in person . Kids these days get cell phones before they go to school . They do not use them as phones to call mom or dad . They use them to access media , games , movies , networks , often not really appropriate for children . Yes , parents can have some limitations placed on the devices and they can monitor them , but who has time 24/7 to verify what your teenager is doing at school , after school , or even at night in their room . Adults pay bills on the phone , post pictures on the media , receive feed from thousands of unwanted senders . The number of ' blind ' interactions is overwhelming and distractive . You cannot distinguish true from false , desired information from trash . Many people keep checking their phones every 5-10 minutes and cannot focus on their work , tasks at home , or even conversations . We see occasional cartoons with six family members sitting at the dinner table , with food on their plates , and all of them are holding a phone , texting each other rather than talking to each other . While it might be funny at first sight , it is truly very sad . That is our world today . Social media became a driver of anti social behavior . People , especially young people , are lonely . They do not need to go outside to play . They play in the walls of their rooms . They text or snapchat their friends . No human contact or interaction is needed to get gossip out . There is also no accountability for what is spread around . Words are harmful . People get depressed . They go on - line and look for options for their depression . What they may find is questionable as well , but they do not even realize that . Loneliness and depression became a national crisis . Some countries , like United Kingdom and Japan , funded a new government unit , Secretary for Loneliness , and assigned a new budget to fight cases of depression and loneliness . This is not a joke . The world is suffering from a mental crisis that humans imposed on themselves . And the only way to target it is to counter anti social factors , like so called social media . So , while you may enjoy the efficiency of your computer , look into your own family , home , workplace , and make this Holiday Season social . Get out of the walls and Instagram and talk to your neighbors , talk to the mailman or UPS guy . Go to the store and greet people in line to the real cashier and not a self - check out . Be truly social . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net