Social lives: glimpse of online & offline expressions in young adults

Abstract

The present information age and rapid expansions of social media networks have provided an interesting picture of online lives. The coronavirus pandemic came up all of a sudden, affecting us enormously. Various legal and moral steps such as lockdowns, social distancing, and quarantine were employed to combat the dreadful virus. This has forced people to stay home, others stranded in between. Lack of social interaction raises the concern of mental health issues, social isolation, and feeling of loneliness. In such tough times, social media came out as a space for obtaining information whether regarding COVID-19, health updates of people getting infected, and other helpful ways to be safe. However, on the other side, there was chaos, mass mayhem, and uncertainties due to fake news, insensitive statements, and disturbing visuals of deaths. All these emotional surges found a way of expression online. Instagram recently completed its 10th birthday and presented itself as a great platform for interaction, updates, and engagements for its users. The field of online expressions is recent yet significant especially during the times of offline restriction of movements and expressions. The article further draws upon the three theoretical approaches, namely, symbolic interactionism, de-individuation, and SIDS, out of which the first can provide a glimpse of how face-to-face interaction during the pre-pandemic times helped individuals make meaning with the world. The latter two understand how group dynamics can affect individual participation in such interaction, especially in virtual spaces.