We all know that meaningful in-person interactions take a lot of energy and that the payoff can be great. It is, as Bauman puts it, a form of deep diving. But when we are preoccupied and tired and are still looking for some kind of payoff, it is far more appealing to give ourselves permission to disregard those who are next to us and indulge in social media’s promise of a dopamine hit and the promise of stumbling on a social interaction online that is far easier, even if not completely satisfying.
