Impacts of Social Media on Todays Interpersonal Communication - Research Paper Example

Impacts of Social Media on Today’s Interpersonal Communication Impacts of Social Media on Today’s Interpersonal Communication Introduction In unambiguous terms, interpersonal communication may imply a form of communication that entails two or more individuals that may be face-to-face, via mail or using the telephone to interact (Irene, 2005). There has been a prototype transformation in the definition of the term interpersonal communication owing to changes in the communication and the incorporation of technologically advanced systems. Communication is critical in the satisfaction of human needs such as the identification needs, social and practical aspects of individuals. Individuals who fail to communicate effectively generally lead dissatisfying lives, and have challenges of identity crisis. The advent of sophisticated technology has had significant impacts in virtually every aspects of human life. Technology has imperatively improved the life of individuals across the globe (Paul, 1998). Of significance, technology has created a platform for the creation and the development of various means of social media that has significantly transformed the mode in which individuals interrelate across the globe. Besides, study shows that the introduction of various means of social media has significant impacts on the way in which people communicate, thereby linking individuals that may seem remote. This serves to reduce barriers of communication, thereby making information exchange effortless and cost-effective. However, critics pinpoint that the introduction of social media has had devastating impacts on interpersonal communication, thereby negatively impacting on the way in which people relate, thereby creating an isolation among societal members (Konstantinos & George, 2008). This has significant impacts in promoting disunity among societal members, and critical interpersonal relations among societal members is in serious predicaments, owing to the continuous promotion of social media as the key means of communication. The youth becomes the most affected members of the society, and mitigation measures ought to be in place to eliminate this predicament. Literature review The use social networking sites saw a significant increase in the mid 1990s, where numerous households afforded internet connection and computer systems (Tariq et al, 2012. This gradually transformed the way in which people interacted, and gave rise to a new communication platform, commonly referred to as social media. According to a recent survey, in 2008, 71.4% of the US populace had significant access to the Internet, and so was 21% of the population across the globe (Keller, 2013). Research shows that various individuals across diverse societal settings globally have embraced social networking, in place of various interpersonal communication modes such as face-to-face communication (Keller, 2013). This renders interpersonal communication modes less effective, thereby significantly affecting the interrelations among individuals of dissimilar cultural values (Paul, 1998). Survey also shows that the use of social networking is on the increase, with the dynamic nature of technology, and this critically impacts the way individuals relate, and the impacts on diversity are significant. Various researches conducted in the 1990s proved that the advent of social networking had significant challenges to the users, particularly the youth. However, though numerous critics conduct parallel researches to disapprove this, it is evident that the impacts of social media on interpersonal communication continue to be detrimental. Social media has had negative impacts on the social connectedness of individuals in numerous aspects. Research also indicated that social media use led to unjustified addiction, and that such individuals proved to be lonely and possessed few friends. Besides social media allows numerous individuals to employ significant time in connecting with an unknown stranger, instead of having real life interaction with well-known and useful individuals (Konstantinos & George, 2008). The study led into the formulation of the following questions and a significant search for pertinent answers: 1. What are the key challenges of social media in interpersonal communication? 2. Are there positive impacts of social media in relation to interpersonal communication? 3. What are the mitigation measures in employing social media to promote interpersonal communication? Challenges of Social Media in Interpersonal Communication The key concept of diverse social media platforms was to provide effortless communication modes at home and at work, thereby easing communication barriers at both work and home dwellings. However, inasmuch as technology provides mechanisms that make general life easier, it comes with significant detrimental effects to individuals. For instance, it was earlier thought that social media promoted interpersonal communication (Irene, 2005). However, earlier survey proved otherwise, where individuals spend useful time while communicating with strangers, who add little or no value to their social well-being. Besides, the capability of individuals using nicknames within these social networking sites poses significant challenges to the users of such technologies. People tend to create misleading profiles of whom they really are, thereby heightening the challenges of anonymity. This also poses security challenges, where individuals arrange meeting with the said strangers, and later realize that the person that they interacted within the social media platforms is completely different from the real-life individual with whom they interact. Besides, while various social communication media create an imperative mode to be in touch with others, they show a serious lack in the significant human interaction that is present in interpersonal communication. Additionally, while communicating via these social media sites, people tend to overlook the emotional aspects of their messages, since they are not physically available to bear the consequences of their message (Irene, 2005). As such, individuals tend to misuse these social media platforms. Individuals expressing themselves in excessively abusive language are common among these social media platforms. Besides, individuals fail to adhere to the cultural morals and values while communicating via these social media sites. For instance, age factor is not present among individuals communicating via these platforms, and the aged may find it inappropriate to use these media platforms (Paul, 1998). As such, the advent of social media continues to expand the age gap that acts as a key hindrance to interpersonal communication. Initially, the youth constituted the greatest percentage of social media usage. However, as technology advances, the social media users continue to increase, with numerous numbers that include the aged continuing to embrace technology. Additionally, owing to the fact that dissimilar generations utilize various technologies differently, the development of numerous social media platforms continue to elicit the disparity in the generations, thereby significantly impacting on interpersonal communication (Konstantinos & George, 2008). Additionally, challenges of interpersonal communication owing to social media use continue to be perceivable. The social skills learnt from interpersonal communication also lack within these social sites, and may promote an aspect of loneliness for the users. Besides critical aspects of communication perceived in interpersonal communication such as gesture tone, and facial expressions significantly lack in the social media communication. This results in communication where one expresses his or her own opinion without any attachment of emotional experience. As such, this communication form proves to be hollow, hence the need for significant interpersonal communication. Various communications through social media platforms also proves to be impersonal, objective-oriented and unfriendly. Non-verbal signals in interpersonal communication are critical in the audience deciphering the intended message between communicating individuals, however, this lacks in the social media communication. This makes it difficult to interpret the messages, thereby making the information vague and difficult in comprehending. Additionally, the humor and irony created and understood in interpersonal communication may be wrongly interpreted and misrepresented to mean something extremely different, thereby highlighting the challenges of ambiguity social media communication. Besides, as earlier indicated, the aspect of anonymity in the social media platforms may compel individuals to create wrong idealized versions of them. Positive Impacts of social media in relation to interpersonal communication Though critics of social media claim that this technology serves significantly to hinder interpersonal communication, advocates of social networking claim the opposite to be true. These advocates claim that the misconstrued conception of social media posing as a challenge to interpersonal communication has no basis, since individuals employ this platform to promote the same. For instance, the capability to communicate instantly with individuals across the globe aids significantly in boosting diversity, since individuals learn and embrace the cultural diversity of diverse societal members across the globe. Besides, social media platforms have been critical in bringing closer family relatives who may be apart, owing to occupational disparities (Konstantinos & George, 2008). This may serve to unite the nuclear and extended family, as well as creating a network of friends across the globe. Interpersonal communication may be difficult under such instances, and social media serves critically to eliminate this challenge. Additionally, numerous researches also show that social media has created a platform where individuals open up and highlight their predicaments. This may be difficult in other aspects of interpersonal communication, where such an individual feels extremely embarrassed to disclose information regarding them. As such, it may be importantly useful in assisting reserved individuals to create and sustain long-term relationships with people (Konstantinos & George, 2008). Besides, individuals with various health challenges ma have a significant chance to create friendships across the globe, since such individuals are usually indoors. Physical interpersonal communication has been significant in promoting interrelationship within one’s societal setting (Konstantinos & George, 2008). However, this may be limiting, since one only interacts with members of his or her social boundaries. The advent of social media cuts across the global boundaries and an individual can be able to communicate with various individuals across the globe. Besides, the age differences created by various forms of social media continue to shrink, owing to the fact that more aged individuals continue to utilize social networking in their communication. Social media also enables the communication of more than one individual simultaneously. Additionally, owing to the record track-keeping of these technology platforms individuals have the capability to rekindle chats with old friends, thereby creating a link that may appear to be broken (Paul, 1998). Additionally, social media may help individuals in searching for long-lost friends, and thereby form links with them for beneficial purposes. Mitigation measures It will be crucial to accept the fact that though technology may significant implications on interpersonal communication, correct utilization of this technology may be critical in promoting interpersonal communication. Besides, though there are significant challenges in social media, it is impractical to mull over abolishing the use of the technology in interpersonal communication. Providers of various forms of social media should endeavor to ascertain that users of these media platforms create profiles with valid information regarding them. Additionally, it will be significant to campaign against the use of vulgar language during the communication process. Users of these technologies ought to adhere to the set rules and conduct codes, and there ought to be strict penalties to the offenders, thereby discouraging improper use of social media. Besides, though the promotion of individuals to engage in social networking, it will be critical for individuals to engage in physical activities on an occasional basis, since this will assist in promoting effective interpersonal communication. The age bias evidently poses a challenge social media interactions. As such, it will be crucial to promote individuals of diverse age brackets to embrace technology and utilize technology appropriately. Conclusion The advent of assorted social media platforms has critically impacted on the mode in which individuals interact, thereby posing significant impacts on interpersonal communication. According to various conducted research activities, social media have both negative and positive implications to interpersonal communication. Critics of social media argue that this platform serves significantly to hinder interpersonal communication, owing to the verity that there is no straight contact with the communicating parties. As such, individuals may have inducement to alter the information to suit their desires, thereby hindering effective communication. Besides, the ability to be anonymous may compel individuals to provide misleading information, thereby posing significant challenges to interpersonal communication. Useful emotional attachment critical in interpersonal communication also lacks in these social media platforms, thereby promoting the use of hostile and vulgar language in communication. However, a positive side to social media exists, founded on the fact that they allow for self-revelation, a fact that is difficult in physical interpersonal communication. They also assist emotionally reserved individuals in creating and sustaining long-term relationships. Besides, these social media platforms assist individuals in connecting with friends and relatives who may be lengthy distances apart. Numerous social media platforms also assist individuals in rekindling old friendships, and encourages individuals in searching for long-lost friends. However, careful application of diverse social media platforms is critical in order to alleviate challenges associated with social networking. References Irene, W. (2005). For Troops, Home Can Be Too Close. New York Times. 3/15/2005, (154) 53154, F1-F6. Paul, B. (1998). Village people? The net generation. IEEE Communications Magazine. 36, (1) p32. 4p. Konstantinos, C & George, L. (2008). Introduction to Social TV: Enhancing the Shared Experience with Interactive TV. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. 24, (2), p113-120. Tariq W., Mehboob, M., Khan, A. & Ullah F. (2012). The Impact of Social Media and Social Networks on Education and Students of Pakistan. JCSI International Journal of Computer Science Issues, 9, (4). 3. Keller, M. (2013). Social Media and Interpersonal Communication. Social Work Today 13, ( 3) p. 10. Read More