Do Social Media Platforms Give People a False Sense of Connection?
Social media and online networks did not emerge by chance. They are a direct result of the development of human desire. As our will to receive pleasure continues to grow, it pushes us to connect more and more with others. This is why we now find ourselves in a reality where everyone is virtually connected, often with hundreds, thousands, or even more contacts, while in reality we know only a handful of them more deeply.
This situation reflects a deeper inner need that has not yet found its optimal form. We are searching for connection, but we do not yet know how to realize it correctly. The platforms exist, but the content of the connection remains superficial. People exchange words, images, and information, but they do not experience real closeness or fulfillment.
If we were to approach this correctly, the purpose of such networks would be completely different. Instead of casual communication, they could become a means to build genuine human connection. The first step would be to create an atmosphere where people feel that others genuinely wish them well. We should feel that we enter a space where others are interested in our well-being, where there is sincerity, openness, and mutual care.
In such an environment, the discussion would naturally deepen. People would begin to share not just information, but feelings. They would speak honestly, not hiding behind roles or pretenses. Over time, those who are not ready for such sincerity would simply leave, and a new type of network would form, based on trust and authenticity.
Within this kind of connection, we start to feel something new. It is not the fulfillment we receive from material items, but a sense of warmth, confidence, and belonging that comes from mutual consideration. This feeling cannot be obtained in any other way. It arises only through a genuinely considerate, supportive, and encouraging connection between people.
Therefore, social networks can serve as a powerful tool, but only if they are used properly. Their real purpose is not entertainment or information exchange, but preparation for a deeper form of connection. Humanity is entering a stage where it must become integral, meaning fully interconnected and interdependent, just like the rest of nature.
Today, we are not aligned with this integral system. Our egoistic nature makes us act only for our own benefit, while the system itself requires mutual consideration. This mismatch is what creates the vast intensification of problems we see in all areas of life, from family and education to economics and ecology.
The solution is to learn how to connect correctly. This is what is called integral education. It teaches how to relate to others in a way that matches the interconnected nature of reality. Through simple exercises, such as group discussions and workshops, we begin to feel that there is a special force within positive human connection.
This force is not imaginary. It is a real phenomenon that becomes revealed when people try to unite above their egoistic and divisive drives. At a certain point, we begin to sense that within this connection is a deeper “something,” like a hidden doorway into a new perception of reality.
As we continue to develop this connection, we begin to feel that we are no longer limited by our individual perspectives. Instead, we experience a reality where the boundaries between people begin to dissolve. This does not mean losing ourselves, but instead gaining an additional sense, a higher perception that lets us understand the system of life.
In this state, we begin to view reality as a single interconnected whole. We understand how everything operates, how it is connected, and where it is headed. This gives us a sense of control, not in an egoistic sense, but as participation in a harmonious system where all parts align.
The younger generation, which is most active on social media, is especially sensitive to this need. They are searching for meaning, a higher purpose, and something beyond the empty forms of communication that currently dominate these platforms. This is why they often feel confused, unfulfilled, and drawn to various forms of escape.
If social media were used to introduce integral education, it could provide them with exactly what they are searching for. It would offer a real connection, a sense of purpose, and access to a deeper level of reality.
Social networks are only a transitional stage, a tool that can help us shift from external and superficial connections to internal meaningful ones. If we use them correctly, they can become a gateway to a new level of human development, where people become connected as a single system. Only through such connection will we be able to overcome the myriad problems we face and build a harmonious, peaceful, and unified world.
Based on “Social Media & Social Networks, Part 2 of 2 | Jtimes with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.” Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.