Digital dependency and social isolation – Barish Ozbay

In the modern era, technology has become central to human life. Much of our day is now spent in front of screens, with social interactions, work, and even emotions managed through digital platforms. While the abundance of information and rapid communication tools might seem to bring people closer to the world, in reality, they gradually distance us from it. This distancing manifests not only physically but also socially and emotionally. People speak less and watch more; they live less and observe more.

In recent years, this phenomenon has become particularly evident among young people. The convenience brought by technology has also fostered digital dependency, pulling individuals away from society, family, and even their own bodies. For many young people, life has transformed into an experience lived in a virtual environment, yet devoid of real physical interaction.

A symbolic example of this is the life of 23-year-old Barish Ozbay from Hatay. For over three years, Barish has not left his home. His life revolves entirely around his phone and computer. He spends his days immersed in online games, social media, and the internet. He no longer showers, changes clothes, or attends to personal hygiene. While physically healthy, he is completely isolated socially and emotionally. His family and close ones cannot reach him, as Barish has severed his connection with reality, existing in a solitary digital world.

Although Barish’s situation may appear to be an individual psychological problem, it is, in fact, a social symptom reflecting an entire generation. The rise of “digital isolation” with technological development is shaping a new identity for modern humans. People increasingly seek themselves in virtual spaces rather than reality. Social relationships are established through screens, friendships are measured “online,” and emotions are expressed through emojis. This contradictory process redefines human connection with society while simultaneously driving individuals toward loneliness.

While the concept of digital isolation is relatively new to social sciences, its roots lie in historical tensions between humans and society. Societies have always demanded conformity, participation, and responsibility from individuals. However, in today’s world, the overwhelming flow of information, increased social comparison, and intensified competition have left individuals mentally exhausted. In response, people seek refuge behind screens, creating a “safe haven” that does not offer freedom but rather a modern form of isolation.

This research aims to explore the paradox of how digital opportunities coexist alongside profound loneliness. Barış’s situation may appear to be an individual case, but it is far more than a young person’s psychological disorder. It is a stark illustration of the “digital isolation” produced by the modern world. Here, a person may be physically present in society, yet mentally detached. Instead of being an active part of the social system, they remain stuck on its periphery, immersed in a virtual identity of their own making.

Understanding Barish’s behaviour requires more than labeling him as “lazy” or “antisocial.” His lifestyle emerges at the intersection of several social and psychological mechanisms: societal pressures, the anxiety of an uncertain future during youth, emotional voids within the family, and the convenient escape provided by technology. Together, these forces sever the bridges connecting him to real life.

This scenario can also be linked to the French sociologist Émile Durkheim’s concept of “anomie.” Durkheim argued that when a society’s normative framework begins to break down, individuals lose their sense of place and purpose. Barish’s situation represents a personal-level reflection of this anomie: rules, goals, and social expectations have become mechanisms that no longer function in his world.

Meanwhile, Erving Goffman’s theory of “social roles” suggests that people perform different roles daily: child, friend, worker, student, and so on. Barish, however, participates in none of these social scenes. He has stepped off the social stage entirely, wearing a digital mask known as an “avatar” and maintaining his existence in another world.

This case is not merely an individual psychological issue; it is a vivid example of digital dependency. Digital dependency refers to the psychological, emotional, and behavioural attachment to technological tools, particularly the internet and gaming platforms. This attachment profoundly affects daily functioning, social relationships, and self-perception.

Sociologist Sherry Turkle notes that the virtual world offers individuals the opportunity to “rediscover themselves,” yet this process can also fragment personal identity. In Barish’s case, he avoids playing his social role in real life but expresses himself through avatars, game characters, and social media profiles in the digital realm. The problem arises when the virtual identity begins to replace the real one, weakening the individual’s connection to themselves and leaving them existing solely in front of a screen.

Zygmunt Bauman’s theory of liquid modernity further illuminates this phenomenon. Young people’s relationships, values, and social bonds are no longer stable, everything is fluid and temporary. The connections, friendships, and achievements Barish constructs online provide only fleeting satisfaction rather than restoring his social meaning in the real world. This, in turn, stunts the individual’s social and emotional development.

From a psychological perspective, Erich Fromm’s theory of freedom and escape is also relevant. Barish has built a “safe haven” behind screens to avoid the pressures and social expectations of the real world. While this refuge offers temporary security, over time it undermines his social skills and ties to reality. He is safe in the virtual world, yet simultaneously isolated. Present behind the screen, but absent in real social life.

Digital dependency also creates an identity crisis. When individuals feel unsuccessful or meaningless in real life, they craft a “perfect version” of themselves online. Barish’s behaviour in games and on social media exemplifies this. The passive, isolated individual in reality becomes an active, successful persona in the virtual space, creating a dual-reality problem. One knows oneself behind the screen, but loses their real-world self.

Moreover, Barish Ozbay’s isolation is not merely a personal choice. It is a social phenomenon emerging from the erosion of family and societal roles. When social relationship systems weaken, families and communities fail to provide emotional, social, and behavioural support. This void drives young people like Barish toward the virtual realm. While his family meets his physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) they cannot offer emotional and social support. According to John Bowlby’s attachment theory, emotional bonds formed in early life are crucial for social and emotional well-being. Barish’s family may be present physically, but long-term isolation and social distance reveal a lack of sufficient emotional support, which reinforces his reliance on the digital world.

This also reflects a gap in societal structures. Social institutions such as schools, universities, and workplaces often fail to provide sufficient support for young people to develop social skills and a sense of belonging. As a result, this void strengthens Barish’s retreat into the virtual world.

Barish Ozbay’s situation is not just his personal story. It is a warning about our collective future. Technology may make life easier, but it also isolates us, depriving us of genuine human relationships, emotions, and social connections. If we do not act now, more young people like Barish will be lost behind screens, driven into loneliness.

As a society, we must stand by these young people. Providing only food and clothing is not enough. We need to listen, to truly hear them, and help maintain their ties to real life. Families, teachers, friends all of us have a role to play. We must recognize the loneliness within young people and show them the beauty of life in reality before they vanish behind screens. Schools, universities, and social institutions should strengthen young people’s social skills, foster a sense of belonging, and teach balanced use of technology. Virtual achievements must run parallel with real-life success. Young people must thrive not only online but also in reality.

Saving our future depends on us. Young people like Barish drifting into isolation are not just individual problems. They are societal ones. Support them, listen to them, and show that reality is still beautiful and life worth living. If we act together, it is possible to break the cycles of isolation and digital dependency. Life happens not in front of a screen, but in the real world. Let us not lose our youth, ourselves, or our future. Let us invite them, each other, and the world to live fully once again.

Nigar Shahverdiyeva
Sociologist, Research Writer