Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy?

Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy?

Author: Gareth King February 28, 2026 Duration: 47:15

The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we’d ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other?

Helping us examine how the digital world affects our ability to connect with people is Maria-Elena Lukeides, a clinical psychologist specialising in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, drawing on neuroscience, behavioural design, and evolutionary psychology.

⁠https://www.drmariaelenalukeides.com.au⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/drmariaelena_lukeides/⁠

⁠http://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-elena-lukeides-270379a5

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Maria-Elena joins us to examine the impact of the internet and social media on human connection. We explore how digital communication has changed the nature of relationships, the illusion of connection in a hyper-connected world, the addictive nature of dopamine-driven validation, and the importance of oxytocin for deeper connections.

We also look at the neuroscience behind social interactions, the dangers of AI in fostering isolation, and the importance of patience and vulnerability in building meaningful relationships.

00:00 The Impact of the Internet on Human Connection

02:34 The Illusion of Connection in a Digital Age

06:03 The Depth of Communication: Online vs. Offline

10:37 The Erosion of Patience in Relationships

13:30 The Challenge of Unpleasant Emotions

17:14 Dopamine vs. Oxytocin: The Chemistry of Connection

20:53 The Quest for Meaningful Relationships in a Fast-Paced World

24:17 The Impact of Digital Communication on Real-Life Connections

28:23 AI as a Substitute for Human Connection

33:43 The Challenges of Modern Relationships

38:07 Strategies for Building Resilience in Relationships

41:00 Exploring Psychedelic Therapy and Connection


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Ruined By The Internet? - Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Podcast Episodes
Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:24
The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic need for shelter into a frantic and dehumanising battle with technology?In this episode we’re joined…
Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:41
The internet often turns self-improvement into a spectator sport, replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than build habits. By looking to algorithms for every answer, have we not o…
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around, delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable break from the old ways. But did the revolution simply bring an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the il…
Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:50
The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Capital, has the dream of a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network been systematically stolen by a new set…
Ayahuasca: From Ancient Ritual to Instagram Aesthetic? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:13
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever; bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, leading to a rise in unq…
Common Ground: From Dialogue to Digital Battlefield? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
The internet promised a place where people from diverse backgrounds could find connection and understanding. But has it instead become a deeply polarised medium where echo chambers and ideological extremism make meaningf…
Brand Trust: The Era of Algorithmic Enshittification? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:24
The internet was supposed to empower brands to build relationships based on authenticity and shared values. But for so many of us, does it now just feel like surveillance capitalism, exploiting and manipulating our atten…
Reputation Management: A New World of Digital Life Sentences? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:07
By creating an environment of radically-decentralised authority, has the internet shattered a slow, controlled process, by turning it into a fast, volatile, and potentially permanent crisis cycle?Joining us is Stuart Tho…
Trust in Information: The End of Believing Our Own Eyes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
The internet promised a more informed society where anyone could share knowledge freely. However, many people feel it’s led to a crisis of trust where expertise is constantly challenged, and huge numbers of us struggle t…
The Internet: A Corporate Hijacking of Digital Freedom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:05
The internet was supposed to be where the free exchange of knowledge and ideas happened. Instead, it’s become a place increasingly controlled by a few companies, leading to the regular suppression of inconvenient or unpo…