When Worlds Collide: Sociality Between Physical and Cyberspace during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Many studies have already demonstrated that ICT use does not necessarily lead to more loneliness and social isolation among people. Nevertheless, the assumption that ICT contributes to the feelings of loneliness and associated illnesses persists among some researchers and in everyday discourse. The paper explores the sociological understanding of sociality from the perspective of ICT use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia. The results of an online survey conducted in the autumn of 2020, with a random sample of 454 participants, indicated that despite the government-imposed restrictions on gatherings and physical interactions of individuals, social dynamics were maintained, albeit predominantly through ICT. Moreover, most respondents reported not experiencing greater loneliness during this period, probably owing to the preservation of their social contacts in cyberspace. It was also observed that the respondents engaged in different activities aimed at sustaining social interaction in cyberspace (i.e., telephone conversations, social media engagement, video calls), contributing to a reduced sense of isolation. The main objective of this paper is to reflect on contemporary social trends, positing that proximity in physical space is no longer a precondition for the emergence and maintenance of social dynamics between individuals.