These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about technology and the way we connect.

But lately, one question I've been asking myself is this:

Does being constantly online make me more connected, or more alone?

For a few reasons:

• Reason #1: I'm part of many groups on different social media platforms where I interact directly with people all day through texts, DMs and group chats, yet barely feel close to anyone. Being constantly switched on and doom-scrolling through a series of messages feels like noise cosplaying intimacy.

• Reason #2: I often scroll through people's media status posts but baulk at calling them. It’s easier to watch snippets of people’s lives than to engage in a real conversation. Sometimes, a highlight reel can be all I need to feel a distant connection with someone.

• Reason #3: Staying connected online gives me a rush of dopamine that can feel like withdrawal symptoms from an actual drug when I finally log off. The hollow silence in the aftermath feels like stepping out of a packed cinema into an empty hallway. I wonder if my attention isn't being swallowed by pixels instead of connecting with people.

  To wrestle with this question, a few things I’m doing are setting screen-free days/hours, calling friends and family instead of texting, and being more vigilant about how I feel after a marathon doom-scrolling session.

I think it'll be a while before I come to any sort of solid conclusion.

(And if you have a clear answer to this question, I'd love to hear from you.)