Media’s Role in Renewing Socialization
Modern technology has made living during a pandemic a historically unique experience; easily accessible software has made the transition to virtual meetings, remote courses, and video calls a fairly smooth one. Witnessing this, it seems impossible to imagine a future without these new social adaptations; and to a certain extent, the idea of this daily screen-to-screen interaction becoming the norm can be scary or uncomfortable. Of course, this sort of communication has already been implemented in work and educational fields, as a means to inform and collaborate with others. But when it comes to socialization with family and friends, this seemingly “removed” way of interacting can be perceived as detrimental.
Entertainment media in recent years has been harshly branded as isolating, mind-numbing, and socially stunting. This notion comes from the impression that social screen pastimes — streaming, online gaming, social media posting, and more — inhibit meaningful human interaction. Take for example, two modes of entertainment popular within a younger demographic; Netflix, and online games, played through platforms like Steam or simply through web browsers.
Through a wide lens, it could be said that shows and movies on Netflix have formed a culture primed for solo media experiences and binge-watching. Users form connections through similar viewing habits or through shared content or recommendations –
Ex: “Have you watched YOU on Netflix? It’s SO good you have to watch it so we can talk about it.” –
but in a practical sense, the act of Netflix binging is conducive to solitary endeavors. Similarly, traditional views of video games depict a self-containing or all-encapsulating space, designed to block out the deafen day-to-day life and pull users into an alternate reality. While there may be elements of truth within these perceptions, they fail to recognize how these mediums have actually renewed certain social gatherings and practices that in the past, have created purposeful exchanges and lasting traditions. And these experiences have been revealed through the COVID pandemic.
Taking the aforementioned examples, we can see how entertainment media has expanded our ability to socialize with others on a deeper level.
In the case of Netflix, the popular Chrome extension “Netflix Party” has altogether renewed a culture of group watching and facilitated the return of the “outdated” practice of “going to the movies with friends.” The longing for meaningful interaction and restrictions of the pandemic have created space for a “virtual movie theater” where friends can watch, react, and talk to one another in real time, with the added advantage of being able to pause films and shows, and not having to pay for expensive movie theater snacks.
We can see this sort of transformation in online gaming as well. While free online games have been around long enough to have both gained popularity and regressed into a devalued form of play, they have made a surprising comeback in the last several months. Traditional “game night” games like trivia and charades, as well as board games like Connect 4 and Pictionary, have made a dramatic return through online platforms. One of the most prominent examples is Skribbl.io, a charade-like game where teams of players can draw out clues to encourage their teams to guess the correct answer. Formerly, software like this may be seen as outdated or lack-luster, but once again, the want for lasting interaction has encouraged the masses to flock to these sorts of games once again.
All this being said, no amount of online interaction may ever fully replace the novelty of face-to-face connection; it is safe to say that even proponents of technology are eagerly waiting for a time when in-person memories can be made. However, it is also important to acknowledge how media has contributed to the return of fond traditions like fun-filled game nights and memorable movie dates.
