Society on the Web: An Overview of Trends in the Use and Development of Social Media and the Internet During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced numerous changes in many areas of human life. Society faced the challenge of adapting to the new reality. Due to the restrictions, people stayed at home and many aspects of their everyday lives moved to the Internet. Direct communication was largely replaced by remote communication, the use of digital tools increased, and social media developed and become the main ways of communication between families, members of the academic community, work colleagues, and brands with their clients. The Internet played a more significant role in maintaining interpersonal relationships than ever before. In this paper, the author reviews trends in the usage and development of social media and the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular emphasis put on the case of Poland.