Introduction:
There is an open public debate regarding the effect of Social media, like Facebook, Twitter, and constantly connected electronic devices like cellphones on human relationships. As with any controversial subject, there is a long list of “Pros and Cons.” On the positive side, the people of the world have never before been so interconnected. The ability to interact with other people around the world and establish relationships electronically without suffering the constraints of locale expands the potential for human interaction. Shy people who have difficulty expressing themselves in conversation can connect in text. On the negative side, people can be so engaged in their virtual world the electronics supplant face-to-face human interactions and negatively influence human relationships. Cyber-bullying is a serious concern, and a constant stream of negative messages, delivered electronically can influence an individual’s sense of self-worth. The question then is not whether electronics have a negative or positive impact on human relations. There is sufficient evidence to establish that they are capable of being both negative and positive influences. Like knives, the electronic devices that keep us connected are tools; and like knives, they can enhance peoples’ lives or destroy them. Individuals must focus upon their positive uses and reject the negatives.
Discussion:
Dr. Alex Lickerman examined isolation, interconnectedness, cyber culture, and reached the conclusion that the Internet is an amazing tool that can bring people closer together, or push them apart. Dr. Lickerman also cautioned against the tendency individuals have to exercise less discretion when typing than in face-to-face exchanges. . Dr. Lickerman was cognizant of how electronic technology could work as a double-edged sword. It can not only harm the recipient of an ill-considered or indiscrete message, but also come back to haunt the sender months, or even years later.
The article written by Hilary Stout and published in the New York Times on April 30, 2010 focused on children’s participation in the virtual world of digital social life. The children and young teens involved were positive about how digital interconnectedness. Their parents were also positive although they presented as somewhat confused by their children’s cyber-lives. The concluding paragraph reflects the general parental tone when she quotes one such father as saying,
I’m thinking Facebook has for the most part been beneficial to my sons. For Evan, the No. 1 reason is, it’s helping him come out of his shell and develop social skills that he wasn’t learning because he’s so shy. I couldn’t just push him out of the house and say ‘Find someone.’ .
A thesis entitled The Impact of Electronic Communication on Personal Relationships written by Lori Shannon and supervised by Dr. Heather Crandall concluded,
This research found that some users felt less connected to others because they learn everything through electronic communication. So, while electronic communication has its place in personal relationships, it cannot be the only form of communication used to build relationships. Ideally, electronic communication is be utilized as a supplement to face-to-face communication.
Here again a researcher found that electronic interconnectedness could be a useful tool to enhance human relationships, but it should supplement and not supplant face-to-face interactions.
The most negative study was the one reviewed by the staff of the MIT Technology Review. The researchers, Sabatini and Sarracino published the results of a study they conducted of 50,000 people in Italy. In that study they concluded that online social networks negatively affect individual welfare. The study consisted of data compiled in 2010 and 2011 studied subjective well-being and individual internet use. In this study, Sabatini and Sarracino highlighted how discrimination and hate speech lowers social trust. . Although the headline casts social media in a poor light, the message is consistent with that of the other researchers and writers; focusing on negative thoughts and behavior lowers a person’s sense of self-worth, social trust and enjoyment of life.
Conclusion:
A review of the literature indicates that electronic technology is a tool that can have negative or positive effects depending on how it is used. Social media can be a beneficial tool that helps shy people develop social skills. Negative messages from discrimination and hate speech can negatively impact upon individuals’ sense of wellbeing. Most researchers and writers described electronics, technology and social media as tools with potentially positive and negative uses. All the researchers and writers encourage responsible use of the Internet and social media, including restraint in the messages sent and discretion in the messages viewed. This is sound advice since technology and social media are here to stay, and people need to use these tools to their best advantage. Most importantly, people need to be aware of the messages they send and absorb.
Bibliography
Crandall, PhD, H. & Shannon, L., 2012. The Impact of Electronic Communication on Personal Relationships. [Online] Available at: http://web02.gonzaga.edu/comltheses/proquestftp/Shannon_gonzaga_0736M_10241.pdf
Lickerman, M.D., A., 2010. The Effect Of Technology On Relationships. [Online] Available at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201006/the-effect-technology-relationships
MIT Technology Review Staff, Sabatini, F. & Sarracino, F., 2014. Evidence Grows That Online Social Networks Have Insidious Negative Effects. [Online] Available at: http://www.technologyreview.com/view/530401/evidence-grows-that-online-social-networks-have-insidious-negative-effects/
Stout, H., 2010. Antisocial Networking?. [Online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/fashion/02BEST.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
