Socializing online is widely prevalent in today’s society. At almost any given time you can look around and see someone one their phone on some type of social media. This type of socializing between either two people online, or large groups is a new thing for people. Our technological advances have made it easier than ever to stay in touch with our friends, families, and loved ones. Everyone that you would want to talk to is potentially only a few clicks away, provided you are near a computer. With a new generation of people utilizing modern technology it has been easier to stay connected, but it is taking a toll on peoples’ overall wellbeing.
In a recently documented study on college freshmen, it is found that socializing online should not be substituted for real world interaction. It was shown that when people spend less time interacting with people in person, and more time doing the same through an online platform, they are more likely to be depressed. The study showed that in recent years people have been going out less and talking to their friends online instead, and the depression rate has gone up five percent as a result. The report says, "Such increases may continue to influence how students conceptualize socializing with friends". Talking to people online can be good for a little while, but if it becomes one’s main source of interaction, it may result in emotional distress.
People have also become more dependent on their phones and computers to stay in touch with others. Think about the last you lost your phone, you get a sense of urgency to retrieve it, because you are worried someone may have called and you were not able to talk to them. Our over dependence upon technology is a reflection of how integrated it is in our lives. As stated in the first paragraph, you can almost always find someone on his or her phones. There is even a term called phantom vibration syndrome, which is the feeling of your phone going off in your pocket, when it is actually not even there. It is easy to be social online, because one can do so with very little effort. This is the reason people are so integrated to talking online instead of person. This ease of communication over the internet also diminishes social skills in person.
It is essential to be able to talk to people throughout your day. Most people want to make good relationships with others and have friends. However for the new generations of children growing up who are closer to technology, speaking online may be replacing conversing in person. People who are used to speaking online never fully develop the social skills needed for face-to-face interaction. This can lead to anxiety and stress in social situations. I personally am in favor of a society in which get together and talk with each other rather than all sign in to the same chat room from their bedrooms. This is why I believe socializing online will ultimately be negative for humanity.
Resources:
No comments:
Post a Comment