Humans are social creatures. Even the reluctant introverts, who recharge their social batteries for months at a time after any social interaction, will eventually crawl from the solitary safety of their abodes to reenter society. However, in a modern era of constant online connectivity, socialites of every degree are passively enjoying the conversations of others without the overwhelming eye contact of in-person exchanges. 

By eavesdropping on their own TV, audiences can passively consume content that mimics socialization. Now, they can use sitcom actors’ voices, podcaster banter, and the distant clatter of baking show drama to fill the silent void. 

It may give cinephiles a conniption, but passively tuning in helps people tune out the loneliness of isolation. This fills their house with characters’ conversation instead of leaving themselves alone with their thoughts. In a loneliness epidemic, background content might just be the simplest cure. 

Via u/DiegoCervo