Internet Dependence explained through Serial Experiment Lain.
Serial Experiment Lain is a cyberpunk anime from 1998. It is about a girl developing a strange connection to a virtual reality network called The Wired. However, I was thinking her strange approach with The Wired is kind of a normality nowadays. What happens when the line between reality and the digital world begins to blur ?
The story follows Lain, a socially isolated teenager, who becomes deeply immersed in The Wired, a virtual network akin to the modern internet. As Lain’s life increasingly intertwines with the digital realm, her sense of identity fractures, raising profound questions about existence and connection in an era dominated by technology.
Lain’s descent into The Wired mirrors society’s growing dependency on the internet (this was an issue even back in 1998). Her initial exploration begins innocently—curiosity, a need for belonging—but quickly spirals into obsession, leaving her detached from the physical world. Does this sound familiar ? Today, our screens have become extensions of ourselves, reshaping how we socialize, work, and even perceive reality. Like Lain, we risk losing ourselves, our connections in a web of constant connectivity and digital validation.
As every anime I have watched there is always a message send by the author, Serial Experiments Lain serves as a cautionary tale. It challenges viewers to ask : How far is too far ? Are we, like Lain, trading authentic human connections for the fleeting comfort of virtual ones ?
As we navigate an increasingly digital existence, the anime compels us to reflect on our choices and the consequences of an unchecked addiction to the virtual world. A dependency that is slowly distorting our reality I would even say our five senses.