Why Do Many People Want to Be Distracted from Their Own Thoughts with Things Such as Social Media, Music, and Television?

One of my students asked me this question after summarizing the past year of certain events trends, and global occurrences. People have been searching, watching, and engaging with things that, on the surface, may seem significant — politics, elections, and the Olympics, which were among the most discussed topics worldwide over the past year.

At the same time, masses of people were captivated by a pygmy hippo named Mu Deng, born in Thailand. They watched her bathe, smile, and simply exist. They followed the rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake — two artists who once coexisted peacefully but suddenly turned on each other, spilling their rivalry into their music. And people consumed it, eager to witness every insult and every reaction.

Then, there were the advancements of SpaceX, because people still dream of escaping Earth. Dubai chocolate, of all things, also captured global attention, with a milk chocolate pistachio combination garnering billions of views. Meanwhile, wars raged on, both here and in Europe, yet the world’s interest in such matters seemed minimal. Scientific breakthroughs, Nobel Prize winners, and historical moments? Almost completely overlooked.

So how do I summarize this past year? Frankly, it is time to shut it all down.

I do not mean this in a pessimistic way, but I simply don’t see anything solid to base optimism on. Everything is deteriorating. People are drawn to distractions because they have nowhere else to turn. Their personal problems overshadow the world’s crises. When one carries enough personal pain, the suffering of others barely registers.

And so, entertainment dominates. Sports, music, and internet trends are escapes. But even in that, there is a potential turning point. At some stage, after watching enough meaningless content, a person might begin to ask, “Why am I watching this? What am I really searching for?”

That question about the search for meaning holds the key. This will all eventually lead people there. But today, I do not see humanity standing at that threshold. People in general are not evaluating their lives, their mission, or their purpose in a way that would bring them to demand an answer the question about life’s meaning and purpose, to grasp the full picture of creation. Humanity has lost itself.

That is my diagnosis. Many might argue, pointing to various developments or successes, claiming that things are not as bleak as I make them seem. But wait and see. No matter what is added to the mix, in the end, it will dissolve into the same impassable swamp.

If I could direct humanity to focus on one thing, it would be the meaning of life. That is the only real question. Everything else is just noise. I rely on the Creator completely — I believe in Him without reservation. And I see no other option. To the Creator, we must give what is His. And to humanity, what remains after He takes His due.