Today, people use social media to connect with one another in various ways. One can connect with that relative or friend who lives far from them and have them grow a relationship that brings them closer to one another. However, does technology also separate people even further from each other? Families and friends no longer connect the way they used to. In a way they isolate themselves.
I came across this topic while I was scrolling through social media earlier this week. It was only a quote, but even the smaller things have a much bigger meaning to them. Matt Mullenweg, one of the developers for WordPress, said, "Technology is best when it brings people together." After reading, I agreed because there were times I shared with family and friends that I considered memorable. Those times were possible because I was able to get in contact with them. Although I have fun with my family and friends from time to time, there are also scenarios that I found boring. The reason I found them boring is because our conversations weren't the most interesting. People no longer engage in conversations as they did back then. I immediately think of Brave New World, because even though people interact with one another, there will be many times that are not important because people are not fully engaged in the conversation. They are either looking at their phone, tablet, laptop, etc. This action puts a part of them in their own world and makes them not commit towards the smaller things, like a conversation. Are people growing further apart or closer together because of technology?
I believe technology has brought shy people closer together, but also separate them more from their real life interaction. The definition of being close to someone has changed because of this. One can pour out their true emotions on a keyboard now a days. Even the shyest people can make the closet of "internet" friends, but it does not mean they have the social capacity to interact with them face to face. Some thing about physically talking to a person in the face can be intimidating to some people. I for one find it a lot less anxiety causing to text someone rather than see them in real ilfe. I get anxiety because of the rapid fire talking has, were as I can take my time to think what to say while typing without miss pronouncing or using the wrong word. I get less anxiety but it makes it harder for me to talk to someone because I know the comfort of texting them instead so it results in me staying away from large social interactions.
ReplyDeletePeople are growing farther apart. Technology has made communicating with someone in person almost unnecessary. People don't talk to each other in person as much as they do online. Instead of going outside to hang out or talk to your friends you may start a video chat or just call them. Also for people that are shy technology keeps them from growing out of their shyness, because they never really have to converse with anyone in person. It is always easier to talk to someone online than it is in person for shy people. But like I said technology is separating people because of the distance it puts between them. What happened to knocking on you friends door after finishing up homework and spending the day with them or just talking to them. Now if you want to talk to someone all you have to do is call them.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is increasing social interaction over the web through social media apps but it is decreasing in person social interaction. Behind a screen you can be anyone you'd like to be as you have the power to mute and block whatever you don't like. However, once we are in person, we find it harder to communicate because we don't have the safety and comfort of being at home. The atmosphere is different and our actual emotions show as we talk with other people. Some teens don't have the luxury of being able to go out with friends every day after school or homework so I understand that talking to friends over the phone or through some other technological means is sometimes the only way we can get in touch but what good is it if we can't use it in person? Getting in touch with distant friends and family is great but if we can't use those social skills in person then it does us no good to use technology. It only worsens us as humans to interact with one another.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, technology can bring people together AND apart. I say it can bring people together because it can help people communicate with others they haven't seen in a while or they must use the technology in order to stay in touch with someone who is far away from them. However, if the technology, such as a phone, is overused, it can cause a person to be so passionate (or obsessed) with whatever their phone has like social media for example. I agree with when you said people no longer engage in conversations as they used to because it's true. For example, sometimes friends or people in a relationship can use a phone to text each other, and that's most of their conversation, but when they see each other in real person they are on their phone using the social media rather than actually interacting with each other. I use this example because I have seen it happen and I've even done it before to be honest. I think many people often resort to technology when they don't have many people to interact with in order to be entertained. This is not to say that technology is overall bad but I do think that it should be used with moderacy and not too much.
ReplyDeleteI actually think the answer is yes and no. I agree with Trinity. Technology can bring people together when they're using it to contact each other things by calling them, sending them a text message, or through FaceTime and Skype. These things reduce the distance and makes it easier to communicate and even see someone far away. It brings people closer together. Although, technology can make people more distant. For instance, when friends are socializing in 2016, they're mostly sitting next to each other on their phones, not talking to each other. I rarely have time to spend with my cousins anymore because they're too obsessed with watching YouTube videos or making musical.lys; this is how technology creates distance between people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Trinity and Jasmine on this, technology can either separate or unite. When it comes to having to communicate at long distances, technology shines because it provides programs like Skype or Snap Chat to do so. Phones alone allow a person to call or text someone else to communicate with them and let them know about something. However, I'd say technology is beginning to make people more distant as it improves. The more capabilities that the devices we use reach, the more appealing they become to use and can become addictive. A perfect example is Pokémon GO (yes, I know it's been talked about way too much already), which allows people to hunt creatures in the real world without actually being aware of what's going on proving to be addictively distracting and at times makes people who are playing together not even pay attention to each other. In the same way, some families are brought apart because of how phones, tablets, and computer are becoming so addictive as mentioned previously. All in all, we are entering an age where our lives are based entirely on technology and there may be nothing to stop it because of how much we enjoy using it. Without self control, you can bet it is what's creating distances and we are really the only ones who can stop it.
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