Is Technology via Social Networks Having a Negative Impact on Interpersonal Communication Skills - Essay Example

Technology Outline Thesis: Technology has several beneficial attributes to humanity and has aided in several ways to development. However, it has adverse impacts on natural ways of communication. I. Impact of technology a) Impacts of teenage behavior b) Impact of devices on safety II. Positive attributes of technology a) Improved communication b) Improved interaction skills III. Negative attributes of social networks a) Unnatural aspect of communication b) Impairment of real life interaction skills Is technology via social networks having a negative impact on future generations’ interpersonal communication skills and/or relationships? Throughout last two centuries technology played an increasingly important role in the world’s society, particularly the development of the ways of communication. With the beginning of the new millennium we witnessed a sudden and unparalleled development of technology, and we are about to see even greater changes in the way we communicate. Despite the fact that technology has provided a proficient means of communication, it has adversely affected communication within society. The paper will assess the way individuals have become accustomed to virtual communication and illustrate how technology has influenced this aspect of society. During the last few decades we got so used to communication via social networks that now these are literally indispensable to life, even in business, and are of great fun for young people. Most young people in the world, especially teenagers under 16 don’t remember a time when there was no social media. Today we already call them “digital natives”, “Facebook Generation” (Adam & Green, 2013). What is going to be the name for the next generations? Already now these children live in their virtual worlds, spending more and more time online, and their online is not only staying on the computer at home. Most teens have smart phones, iPhones and iPads, which help them stay on social networks throughout the day, continuously texting, tweeting, posting pictures (Adam & Green, 2013). Since their childhood they know what are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and a lot of other popular social networks (Wajcman, 2008). Such excessive staying online has hardly positive impact on this and future generations, particularly their interpersonal communication skills, rather negative. Thus, more teens now are more comfortable doing stuff behind their computer screens or phones, than they are in person. Social networks made it easier for them to embrace stuff “safely” behind the screen, than like the preceding generations to do that in person, to be always ready for reality check. Another thing that worries is that some teenagers heavily engaged in their social network life claim to be completely different than they are at home, with their family, in their study groups. When bringing up a teenager it is important to remember that there are negative effects on representatives of this age group because of social networks, especially their overstaying online (Wajcman, 2008). No matter how comfortable it is, social media is influencing their way of life, effecting the development of their personality, holding back their wish to be involved in sports activities or attend musical classes, depriving of social interaction skills. What is more, we cannot be sure that all those devices are safe, for all we know they could be seriously damaging for our health. Thus, for example, in Hong Kong, China they conducted a study on the health effects of using smart phones and portable electronic devices, the participants of which confirmed they have physical problems, such as neck pain, shoulder pain and wrist and hand pain symptoms because of using different types of electronic devices and for quite a long time each day (Wajcman, 2008). The study also showed that students overly obsessed with electronic games may suffer from adverse health effects in the long run. If they become accustomed to poor postures such as forward head or “poking-chin” posture, rounded shoulders, these may become fixed postural habits that would be difficult to correct when they turn adults. Some people say that social media has brought more positives, than negatives, having made our world a better place to live in. The reasons they give is that such social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter increase communication among individuals, keep them socially active. For example, Facebook allows millions of people to keep in touch with each other as well as with different people from around the world, and serves as a source of entertainment. Therefore, it does not negatively affect communication per se but rather provides an alternative means which is suitable for the majority of the population. In addition, the thesis fails to take into consideration the way communication has changed throughout time and evolution. They also state that those people who have difficulties interacting in person feel more comfortable communicating via these networking sites. Since there is a screen rather than an actual person, people feel more protected and relaxed. This allows people to develop more confidence, and express their thoughts by means of social networks rather than confronting the situation (Adam & Green, 2013). It probably could work with mature, grown up people, but not with teenagers, who are still children with immature consciousness, in fact. However, disability to cope with real life situations will not do any good to a representative of any age group, nothing to speak of inexperienced and lacking wisdom teens (Bray, 2013). Some young people use social media to hurt, push and provoke each other. There words and tone are often misunderstood, given little context surrounding them and lacking precision. Being once hurt there any sensitive child can be subject to a distinct danger of detaching himself or herself from what the rest of us consider a real world for fear of being refused or feel distressed again, not realizing that hurting someone from a distance is not the same as hurting them face to face (Bray, 2013). Also, issue of distraction is of a key role here. They are doing homework, and then suddenly switch to the chat, then to music or game, and thus, are likely to have trouble doing tasks well. Too much social networking and game playing can interrupt the course of schoolwork and adversely affect sleep. This is exactly why parents still need to set strict boundaries around it, as with any other distraction. Social networking is making us less social. Let’s face it, today people are choosing to stay in and stay on the computer instead of going out, doing any activities. Talking online is mainly brief and impersonal. The word you may type to someone is lacking emotion. When you talk to someone in person you are way more likely to put lots of thought and emotion into all the words you say, and it would be perceived completely different, with reciprocal emotions. It is becoming increasingly apparent that there is a problem with children’s social development becoming impaired due to social networking; they have trouble developing their social skills (Bray, 2013). Interacting with each other online, and not in person, where proper social skills are needed to have conversations, does not make a conversation meaningful. The effect of this is causing kids to be lonely but without them even knowing it, because they feel like they are with friends just by typing to them, but that is not the case (Adam & Green, 2013). In summation, technology has played a significant role in improving the way people community as well as the efficiency of the process. However, this advancement has led to several adverse effects on natural sociological behaviors of communication and people have continued to lose their ability interact in person. Children who are still maturing and have little self control have the highest risk of being influenced by this addictive communication medium. References Adam, A., & Green, E. (Eds.). (2013). Virtual gender: Technology, consumption and identity matters. Routledge. Bray, F. (2013). Gender and technology. Women, Science, and Technology: A Reader in Feminist Science Studies, 370. Wajcman, J. (2008). Life in the fast lane? Towards a sociology of technology and time. The British journal of sociology, 59(1), 59-77. Read More