Post #5: The Effect of Social Distancing on Society

With the ongoing anxiety regarding the corona virus pandemic, American medical professionals have given the nation advice as to how to stop the rapid spread of the virus. While some actions are basic, such as washing your hands frequently, some are more intense. An example of this is the practice of social distancing. Social distancing is the practice of avoiding large gatherings and close contact of others. This means that restaurants, sporting events, and schools (as we are all aware) are being temporarily closed. While this can be a very efficient way o stop the spread of the virus, it can have unprecedented side effects on our society.

As more people begin to distance themselves from each other, a sense of social isolation will begin to form. Humans are a naturally social species, so being separated from each other for long periods of time can prove to be harmful. According to Science Magazine (https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/we-are-social-species-how-will-social-distancing-affect-us), "Over long periods of time, social isolation can increase the risk of a variety of health problems, including heart disease, depression, dementia, and even death." In fact, certain individuals, such as those with chronic illnesses or those who already suffer from feelings of loneliness, are more susceptible to suffer from these effects.

Not only are we affected by this pandemic on an individual basis, but our society as a whole also has the potential to suffer from these circumstances. As I stated earlier, large gatherings of people will be temporarily postponed. Therefore, events such as sports gatherings will not be taking place for at least a few months. Because events like this provide people with a sense of togetherness, this may cause people to feel less of a sense of a community within their respective activities. For example, us seniors in high school may not get to have their senior prom, which a lot of students look forward to throughout all of high school. This may cause students to feel apathetic about the rest of their high school experience due to the lack of a sense of community.

While their are plenty of negatives that could come with social distancing, some aspects of this practice could have positive results as well. For example, turnouts in social events after the pandemic is over could prove to be even bigger and more spectacular than ever before. This could also allow people to value human interaction more. There are many more positives that could come out of this situation, but it is most important for us to stay optimistic for the future.