There is no doubt that technology has had a big influence on our lives. People from all around the world can now talk to each other almost at once on mobile phones and the Internet. People can easily solve their problems with the help of computers and the World Wide Web. With the technology, it seems that the world is more connected now than ever before. Even so, there have been worries about technology making people feel lonely and disconnected from others around them.

So does this mean that technology makes us lonely?

In my opinion,   it is hard to say “Yes” or “No”.

It’s true that humans need communication with each other. If we depend on technology too much to communicate, this can badly impact our mental (心理的) health. For me, technology is a tool. And just like any other kind of tool—like scissors, a pencil or a ruler. For example, it depends on how we use it: in a right way or in a right place. Take social media (社交媒体) as an example. If you only use it to compare yourself with others, you might feel sad and lonely. But if you use it as a tool to connect with friends and family or to start a new community to talk about your hobbies and interests, the loneliness will turn into love and friendship.

When you feel lonely after staring at your computer screen all day, maybe you can use that technology to reach out to a reliable (可靠的) friend and invite him or her out for lunch or a coffee.

Do you live in a big city? I do. Every day, the streets are noisy with the activity of millions of souls (灵魂), each of them living in their own way. It seems that people from every corner of the planet live here. And every single person has their own unique story.

However, people here can often feel quite lonely. It’s a strange contradiction (矛盾) — other people are around you at every moment, but you still feel like you’re the only person on the planet. You can walk through a crowd and feel like you’re floating (漂浮) alone in space. Even the busiest shopping mall can feel like a foreign planet.

Have you ever felt like this? It’s not an unusual feeling. Living in a crowded city can often make people feel this way. There are many ways to do with this feeling — but perhaps the best way is to rely on your friends.

When I’m feeling lonely or sad, the first thing I do is to pick up my phone and text (发短信) a friend. All of us are busy with work and our own matters — but my closest friends always take the time to reply. In a world where feelings of loneliness can come so easily, friends are the best medicine for these feelings. I’ve gotten through some of the hardest times in my life with the help of my friends. Take time to develop your own friendships. You never know when you will need someone to lift you up.