[rft34g4e3t]

How did we become so lonely and disconnected that watching a stranger's live-stream became a substitute for human contact?

It's something I see in all online video. Lets plays, mukbangs, makeup tutorials.. the game, the eyeshadow, the food is not important. It's having someone talk to you about their day. It makes you feel like you're not alone. Take ReviewBra for example. He barely reviews food anymore. He just sits at a table and says comforting things.

At least he's trying to use this for good. But why has this content taken off in the first place? So many young people I encounter are practically hikikomori.

[salvar]

I get your point, but aren't you writing this on an online message board that's essentially a slightly different kind of substitute for human contact?

[rft34g4e3t]

Digital communication is not inherently substituting human contact. It can be used to augment our relationships - organizing meetups in real life, and keeping in touch with long distance friends. It can also help you make new friendships in real life, or online-only. Online-only friendships are not a problem, as long as you have IRL friendships also.

But read the article. When they talk about this streamers fan base. How some of them felt so depressed, and the stream made them feel like they had a friend. Maybe the stream kept them from ending their life. What makes people so lonely that the stream is the only thing keeping them going?

I'm not critiquing online video. There will always be a need for entertainment. What I'm asking is why so much of it, lately, seems designed to comfort lonely people. And why are so many people in need of that?

[blawson]

I think it's easy to forget about how widespread the reach of these platforms is. The article talks about fans from all over the world.

I'm sure there are a number of chronically super depressed, super isolated individuals, but even just a few people here and there going through a rough patch can add up to huge viewerships on a global scale.

Also, when I was sick in school growing up I had shit daytime TV to watch. Binging on a YouTube stream might have been more entertaining.

[lovehashbrowns]

> How some of them felt so depressed, and the stream made them feel like they had a friend. Maybe the stream kept them from ending their life. What makes people so lonely that the stream is the only thing keeping them going?

> depressed

> Maybe the stream kept them from ending their life.

Did you not answer your own question? As someone with a lot of social anxiety (it's hard for me to even comment in forums/here) Twitch streams make it feel like I'm getting human interaction. But it's mainly a distraction from the feeling of loneliness, obviously. Hopefully it gives these people the time they need to deal with their social anxiety/depression rather than progressing further down the spiral.

[rft34g4e3t]

Thank you for commenting. I know it can be hard with the anxiety. I appreciate getting your insight.

I agree with you. These streams can distract you when you feel alone. That might even be a good thing for some.

But I'm trying to figure out why so many people are lonely in the first place, that we would need these streams to fill the void. Maybe we've always been this disconnected, and it just feels worse now. But I have noticed more people feeling isolated and alone.

I remember when I was in college, I felt so much pressure with my courseload that I hid away for days binge watching a tv show. I was avoiding writing a term paper. I was also avoiding my classmates.

I work with teenagers in my profession. And I'm seeing lots of high school students dealing with the same type of anxiety and withdrawl. Is it normal? At that age? Is this becoming more widespread? And if so, what is causing it?

I read this last year, and it confirms what I'm seeing. One of the schools mentioned is actually in my area.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/magazine/why-are-more-ame...

Again, thank you for your comments.

[lovehashbrowns]

I have no idea why that is, honestly. I think, at least for me, there's always some sort of pressure to have a lot of friends or social interactions. Go on FB, everyone's hanging out with each other and posting about it or talking. Snapchat, same thing. Dating sites everywhere. Dating apps.

But that's about all I can think of. There's probably more going on. I'm just personally thankful that I was able to get that anxiety out of the way via Twitch/streams.