Discussion During this design research process, we have come to learn of several things through our investigation. We have divided them into discussions about the nature of our design problem, reflections on the research methods we have undertaken and recommendations for the future.
Nature of the design problem There are situational factors that lead to social isolation and loneliness, and the Internet acts as the role of an amplifier In our findings, social isolation is mostly situational. An individual may server from social isolation when she is being excluded from a certain group of people or social events. Our research subjects reported different factors of their social isolation, such as the language barrier because of studying abroad, ageing crisis or bad performance at school. However, all of these feelings are essentially caused by the comparison with superior others and can be changed if they think in a different way. The pervasive social media strengthen the feeling of being excluded because it allows people to observe the lives of not close friends, strangers or even famous figures. Most of the posts and pictures from social media are vivid and refined, which on the one side, satisfies people who post them by providing a downward comparison, while on the other side, amplifies the stress of the people who read them by revealing an upward comparison.
Figure 26 Visualizing the vicious cycle
SD5527 Graduate Studio I
Studying Internet-related social isolation and pressure in adults
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