Sci-fi story about family that meets for first time in real life

[Jijo]

Dear Friends,

I am racking my brains for the title of a brilliant sci-fi short story about a happy family who live separately in cubicles, where they communicate by virtual conference (much like today's Zoom calls.) One day they decide to rebel and meet in person for the first time. When they do they are horrified. They are not at all like the ideal (touched-up) family members they met every day online. They are repulsed by the physical presence -- the pimples, bad breath, touch of skin, tone of voice -- and begin attacking one another. Can anybody tell me the name of this story? I could have sworn it's by Stanislaw Lem but nothing turns up when I do an Internet search.

Hoping somebody might help me with this and many thanks to all.
Jijo

 

[Rodders]

That sounds very relevant in today's Instagram world.

I can't help you, but i wouldn't mind having a read of it myself.

 

[Danny McG]

It's somewhat similar in description to this query

(Found) Sci-fi short story about Tourist Avatars

A disturbingly prophetic story about a time in human civilisation when people no longer go out. They live and work from small compartments. For annual holidays they travel the world remotely inhabiting avatars, described as small cubes with legs and arms that can be conveniently stacked and...

www.sffchronicles.com

 

[Jijo]

Many thanks all. These all sound great but not the one I'm looking for ... maybe I just dreamt it. It is indeed an apt metaphor for our Instagram age.

 

[Ambrose]

How about E M Foster's 'The Machine Stops' ?? as to the Zoom element, though it does not otherwise fit.