Netflix series The Circle and Love is Blind show social isolation is not as bad as it sounds
- Two of the biggest streaming hits of 2020 on Netflix show reality contestants forming human connections from within their own four walls
- Both establish that this can be done without needing to be face to face – a lesson for the millions in self-isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic
There’s no doubt social media has changed the way we communicate and interact with others. And the spread of the novel coronavirus has resulted in the cancellation of major events, the closing of public spaces and the rise of social distancing around the world.
With more of our interpersonal interactions being pushed online in this time of quarantine, uncertainties loom around the lasting social impacts.
A team of University of Washington psychologists is already studying the impacts of social distancing on adults in King County, Washington state, in the US Northwest. The stress that comes from isolation can affect immune-system functions and increase anxiety; human connection is more crucial than ever.
Uncannily, as we look for ways to navigate our new state of social isolation, two of streaming behemoth Netflix’s biggest shows of 2020 have portrayed similar socialising scenarios – and they offer some things for all of us to keep in mind.
After being intrigued by fanfare online, I watched Netflix’s The Circle for the first time a month ago. And one of my first thoughts was, “How do these people stay sane while staying inside for so long?”