Internet Effect on Social Relations and Sociality - Essay Example

INTERNET EFFECT ON SOCIAL RELATIONS AND SOCIALITY The entry of the internet in the world has revolutionalized the communication sector. This has been facilitated with the entry of the modern technology which enables people to communicate easily. Some of these technologies include phones, tablets, laptops, etc. People no longer have to cover physical distance in order to pass information to family members or friends. This aspect has played a significant role in enhancing communication especially during these tough economic times when the workplaces are demanding too much time from the subordinates, an aspect that is making it hard for the people to have ample time to interact. However, internet communication has changed the social relations and sociality between people. Initially, parents used to spend much of their time together with the children. As a result, they were able to observe the growth and development processes of their children. Therefore, in case of an abnormal issue, they were able to take the necessary actions on time. However, with the entry of the internet in the market, parents prefer to use audio and video calls to communicate with their children. This is because time has become scarce as pressure from work is intensifying. However, children cannot be able to share their emotions and some of the personal issues that are affecting them (Castels 2004). As a result, they are ending up turning to their peers for help and guidance. At the end, they get misled by being driven into drugs, crime, or sexual activities. This is having a major impact on their growth and development. The internet has changed the culture of people across the world. Initially, people had distinct cultures which were dear to them. However, with the entry of the internet, people have used the online platform to share their cultural aspects. In addition, they have shared with their virtual friends on social media about social behaviors. Through critics by their friends, some people have abandoned their cultures and taken up the global culture (Coleman 2010). As a result, the world has become unified with community having a sense of unity and coherence. Furthermore, the internet has brought cultural identities, representations, and imaginaries. These are mainly found among the young people in the Diaspora. The internet has changed the political interaction between people. Initially, leaders used to divide people in order to remain power. This is through giving contradicting information to different groups of people in order to create confusion. However, with the entry of the internet in the market, people are able to share political ambitions and discuss the kind of leaders they want (Kahn and Douglas 2004). Grassroots politics have intensified an aspect that has forced leaders to interact with people in order to understand their grievances. Political parties have also created various platforms such as emails and websites in order to interact with the people. This has played a significant role in providing an opportunity for the people to air grievances to top leaders without the use of intermediaries. Besides voicing their concerns, direct interaction with leaders has improved the level of leadership. Furthermore, it has made the people to be directly involved on matters of governance in the society. Internet has enabled people to interact and communicate about the political issues that are of great concern to them. For instance, in 1990s tenants in North Carolina used the internet to get information from their friends concerning the proposed demolition of social housing. As a result, they were able to stage demonstrations which stopped the whole exercise. Furthermore, the recent ousting of long-serving political leaders is an indication of how internet is being used by people to share critical information about the political situations in their country. For instance, the revolution that led to removal of Egyptian president was sparked in the social media. People shared information on the meetings and strategies to be used in removing the president from power. This played a significant role in uniting the people towards a common course. The same platform was used in Libya and Tunisia. This is an indication that the entry of the internet has changed the social interaction of the people. This is through incorporating other external needs of the people such as political affiliation in their overall interactions. Initially, many societies had embraced organized relationships. Parents played an important role in selecting the partners for their children. These were mainly from their family friends or other close people in the society. This is because the level of interaction was narrow and did not give them an opportunity to look for options in the larger society. However, with the entry of the internet, young people are now able to explore even beyond their borders. Marital entrepreneurship has become a common phrase in the society. This occurs when people meet over the internet and starts a relationship. They then meet and become engaged. This happens without the use of a third party. Social platforms have been formed where lonely persons can meet the people of their choice and start a relationship. This indicates how the level of socialization in the modern society has gone a notch higher (Hashish and Mark 1999). This has been facilitated by the increasing levels of globalization which has enabled removed the previous communication barriers that existed in the world. Therefore, matchmaking services have become common in countries such as Egypt which were initially reserved on issues related to marriages. Internet activism has become common in the modern society. Initially, political leaders had to use traditional media to reach the citizens. Due to poor communication networks, people were deceived about the activities of their leaders. However, in 1990s, internet changed the way people socialize and look at politics. Activists started using the internet as a technology to organize mass protests against leaders who were misusing the power that were embedded on them by the members of the public (Kahn and Douglas 2004). The internet gave these activists a platform to socialize with people and inform them about what was happening in the leadership arena. This aspect made the leaders to start focusing on people and delivering their promises as people were brought together by the internet and social media, an aspect that strengthened their voice. This created an internet community which was able to challenge those in political positions (Wilson and Leighton 2002). Internet communication has weakened the social ties in the family and the society at large. Initially, people used to meet and discuss any issue that was affecting them personally. Through opening up, they were given advice or the necessary assistance. This boosted their psychological wellbeing. However, this is not the case anymore. Currently, people prefer to use video calls to communicate with their friends and families. Although the proponents argue that this has eased the level of communication, in real sense, it has made the close ties that existed to weaken further (Coleman 2010). This is because video calls cannot be able to replace face-to-face interactions. This is because face-to-face interactions gave ample time for people to open up about their personal life. This relieved pressure which could have threatened the health of the person. This explains why there are a high number of people suffering from stress and stress-related diseases in the society. Currently, people no longer need homes, offices, or cafes in order to stay in touch with the rest of the world. Some research indicates that social media and internet has augmented rather than undermined our personal relationships. Online communication such as use of emails, chat rooms, and instant messaging has not replaced the more traditional form of contact. Instead, it has added on them, an aspect has increased the volume of contact between people in the society (Castels 2004). The internet has closed the gap that has been opened up by pressure in the workplace. As a result, people no longer have to worry about making long journeys to meet family members while they have strict deadlines because they can meet them through the online platforms. Therefore, internet has removed the geographical barriers that affected the level of social interaction between the members of the family of friends. People are spending too much time on the internet and social networks, an aspect that is threatening the traditional ways of interacting. Currently, young people are spending a lot of people on the internet chatting with their virtual friends and searching for information. On the other hand, their parents are working even from their homes because internet has made it easy for them to submit their work while in any geographical location. Cases of parents working even while they are in holiday with the rest of the family have arisen. This is affecting the unity of the family as children are feeling abandoned and distanced from the extended family members. Therefore, the bond that existed initially is being weakened by minimal communication between the members of the family (Castels 2014). In conclusion, the internet has revolutionalized the way people interact. This is through reducing the geographical distances and making it possible to communicate with friends and family members from any location. Moreover, it has improved social life by enhancing the level of interaction between people in different locations. However, it is ruining face-to-face interaction, an aspect that is affecting the relationship between family members and even friends. Bibliography Castels, Manuel. "The Impact of the Internet on Society: A Global Perspective." MIT Technology Review. Last modified 2014. http://www.technologyreview.com/view/530566/the-impact-of-the-internet-on-society-a-global-perspective/. Coleman, E. G. "Ethnographic Approaches to Digital Media." Annual Review of Anthropology 39 (2010): 487–505. Hashish, Shereen A., and Mark A. Peterson. "Computer Khatbas: Databases and Marital Entrepreneurship in Modern Cairo." Anthropology Today 15, no. 6 (1999): 7-11. Kahn, Richard, and Douglas Kellner. "New Media and Internet Activism: from the ‘Battle of Seattle’ to Blogging." New Media Society 6, no. 1 (2004): 87-95. Wilson, Samuel M., and Leighton C. Peterson. "THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF ONLINE COMMUNITIES." Annual Review of Anthropology 31, no. 1 (2002): 449-467. Read More