From Followers to Isolation: How Social Media Hijacks Your Brain
2. “DMs Aren’t Hugs” (How My Online Small Group Failed Me)
When my dad died, my church’s Facebook group flooded with 🕊️ emojis and “Praying!” comments. But only one person—Linda, the 72-year-old widow—showed up with Kleenex and a casserole. “Honey,” she said, “hearts break in 3D, not WiFi.”
The lie: Digital support = real connection.
The truth: Oxford researchers found online interactions release 50% less oxytocin (the “cuddle hormone”) than face-to-face chats.
My action plan:
- Trade 5 DMs for 1 phone call weekly.
- Host “No Phones Allowed” game nights (We use a literal phone jail—a locked box with a timer).
- Send handwrite letters (My teen group now exchanges “vulnerability mail” with stickers and tea bags).
