Part 2/11:

Social anxiety, characterized by an intense fear of being scrutinized in social settings, has been notably exacerbated by the pandemic. In the initial months, societal behavior around health safety led to intense hyper-vigilance about personal interactions, such as how to manage social gatherings or the fear of transmitting the virus. Many individuals who experienced social anxiety found themselves in a new type of isolation, often preferring the anonymity masks provided, making interactions feel less daunting. However, as remote work became the norm, platforms like Zoom posed their challenges. The constant self-monitoring—seeing their own image during calls—elevated feelings of social scrutiny for those already feeling anxious in social contexts.