The Importance of Connections and Experiences in a Digital World

We thought we’d take the time to reflect on why we created SeatlabNFT and how we hope it will impact our community for the better.

One of our main goals with SeatlabNFT is to create a closer connection between artists, performers, and the fans who come to see the show. In a world where the internet has created global connectivity, a genuine connection between people can sometimes be hard to find.

Yes, technology allows us to easily communicate with our friends and relatives in far-flung corners of the world but this ease of communication has also led to a different way of living, not necessarily for the better.

Digital Problems

It’s easy to consider the positive impact technology has had on communication, and the accessibility of information as more and more workplaces offer remote working opportunities to their staff. In turn, people can spend more time with their families, less time commuting and can even take the occasional zoom call in their pyjamas!

Yet there are growing concerns over this digital way of living and how it impacts our physical and mental wellbeing.

Humans now spend more time than ever before indoors, with studies suggesting that most people spend around 90% of their time inside. This is problematic, as sunlight is a major source of vitamin D for humans. Vitamin D is important in reducing inflammation and cancer cell growth, it also helps build bones and control infection.

In addition, screen time is responsible for increased levels of obesity, anxiety and depression, sleep problems, and neck and back pain as users continue to hunch over their screens for both work and leisure.

The Coronavirus pandemic has added another layer to this problem, as lockdowns mandated people to stay indoors, which in turn led them to switch on devices as a way to alleviate the boredom and distract from the uncertainty.

Ancestral Movers

Setting aside the impact of screen time and a lack of sunlight, we should also consider how technology has conditioned us to move around less. For the majority of our time on planet earth as humans, it has been necessary to spend a large amount of our day moving around to find food, water and shelter.

Of course, we’re not suggesting that a return to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle is necessary, but it is important to remember that the amount of time we spend stationary in front of screens is detrimental to both our physical and mental wellbeing.

A growing body of research is warning us about the dangers that our seated lifestyles will incur.

Real-Life Connections & Experiences

Of course, the greatest impact that the digital age has had on us is how we interact and communicate with each other.

It’s incredible to think that we’re now able to contact people on the other side of the world with a few taps on a screen. Unfortunately, however, we are all guilty of applying the same digital convenience to interactions which should be done face-to-face.

This has become a problem, with studies showing high levels of social media use can result in increased loneliness and lower self-confidence.

Compound Effects

The cumulative effect (in conjunction with other elements of modern life) of screen time, lack of sunlight, fewer in-person connections, and a sedentary lifestyle has been huge, with soaring mental health problems, rising obesity rates and a continued increase in various circulatory system disorders.

As a result, it seems that now, more than ever, it’s important to give people a reason to get up and leave the house. Especially as the pandemic and lockdowns not only gave people a reason to spend more time indoors and looking at screens, but it also prevented people from being able to go and socialise. The impact on young people was devastating, with 61% of people aged 18–25 reporting increased levels of loneliness.

In our eyes, the perfect counter to the issues facing society is live events. Thanks to the breadth and diversity in the types of shows it’s possible to put on, there’s a live show for almost everyone to enjoy, regardless of interests or taste. From sports to concerts, comedy and festivals, live events give people a reason to head out.

Live Events — Addressing The Digital Age

Live events not only give people a chance to socialise with their friends but also a chance to feel like part of a community. Little comes close to the thrill of a live show, especially the buzz of being part of a crowd, watching a performer in full swing. This makes it one of the most engaging ways in which we can encourage people to step away from their screens.

It’s one of the things we wanted to focus on when we first imagined SeatlabNFT — helping people feel a closer connection to each other and to the artists and performers they love. We’ve worked in live events for years and realised that with Web3, ticketing platforms could do far more for the live events community than they currently do.

SeatlabNFT

We’ve designed SeatlabNFT with the live events community in mind. We want artists and performers to be able to connect with their loyal fans and for those fans to feel like they are rewarded for their loyalty.

There’s a load of amazing features we’re building into our platform, which we believe will make the live event experience even more appealing. Using the climate-neutral NEAR Protocol blockchain, we’re creating an NFT ticketing marketplace where fans can trade NFT collectables, be airdropped access passes to secret shows and engage with others in their community.

To find out more about how we’re redefining the event ticketing industry, join our community and follow us on our social media accounts.