Does online communication negatively affect interpersonal relationship?

Joshua Homesombath

2,193

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 Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………..Page 3

Technology affecting relationships ………………… Page 3-4

Addiction……….... …………………………………….Page 4

Screen Free For A Day………………………………...Page 5

The Internet promotes social interaction……………...Page 6

Internet…………………………………………………...Page 7

Cell Phone For Communication ……………………Page 7-8

Opinion ………………………………………………..Page 8-9

Conclusion…………………………………………...Page 9-10

Bibliography…………………………………………Page 11-13

Introduction:

Does online communication negatively affect interpersonal relationship? Overall technology has

been evolving quickly and the world has become dependent on the new development.

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Throughout the advancement of incoming technology, there is the spread of issues, such as

internet hacking, internet abuse and etc. But one huge issue that has been developing for a long

time is interpersonal relationship. When the first source of communication was developed from

one country to another, it was groundbreaking. The source of sending a message to another

has become such an easy task. Who knows sooner or later interactions with one another will be

virtual. Countless research has been done to support rather online communication negatively

affects interpersonal relationship.

Technology affecting relationships

Going forward with the information gathered on rather interpersonal relationship is affected from

online communication. New technology has found a way to strip away important aspects of how

people connect personally. Individuals that see their loved one too distracted by their phone

should recognize that their communication is a lack of better words boring. A research was done

from 2014 by pew research center poll stated that “one in four cell phone users in a relationship

or marriage found their partner too distracted by their cell phone,” (Lenhart, A., & Duggan, M.,

2014). Emotional connections are essential to the relationship and impossible to replicate with

technology. Online addiction is now taken over the younger users. It has shift the way people

spend their time and energy. Depression has been increased from the heavy use of social

media and has negatively affected mental health of many teens and adults. Changing the way

one is able to communicate personally to friends and family. If a person devotes their time to

social opportunities, then they must correspondingly decrease their attention to others.

Addiction:

There was an article that was released in 2009, stating information on the BlackBerry. Even

though the article talks about the benefits of online communication there is some negative side

that is merely glossed over. Hoffman, Rae, states that “I am this "victim" (and in some opinions,

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have made my children victims) of all the above BlackBerry harm on my life. But, here's the

thing ... I don't see the BlackBerry as being an "issue" in my life. I'm sure some people will

argue, but all I can do is give you my, non-researcher, devout BlackBerry user side of things,”

(Hoffman, Rae., 2009). Overall time Hoffman goes throughout her day explaining that she is

definitely addicted to her Blackberry. Also that no matter where she goes she must have her

Blackberry in order to acquire messages, emails, and phone calls. Those who operate

continuously on their cell phone are probably the ones to alienate people and rather

communicate through social media. Hoffman was so addicted to her phone that even her friends

said she was quite rude and that she was being to distracted from everyone around her.

Constantly checking her Blackberry and taking herself out of the group.

As horrible as it sounds technology addiction changes the way one is able to communicate on a

emotional level and one can be disconnected from the outside world and have no true emotion

towards people. Later on, in the article, Hoffman mentions the relations she has in the house

alongside her partner. She states, “you'd be hard-pressed to find either of us in the house at any

point in time without the BlackBerry within reaching distance,” (Hoffman, Rae., 2009). Hoffman

is a victim of being addicted to technology and she doesn’t see a severely detrimental issue with

her Blackberry usage- even though the usage of it is at addiction level. At the end of the day she

is able to function and make her life easier.

Screen-Free For A Day:

“Maplewood High experimented on 40 classmates to see if they could survive without their cell

phone,” (Gonzalez Tony, 2015). Taking part in a popular challenge: disconnecting from

technology. The attachment between students and their cell phone is nothing less than

addiction. It is quite remarkable to see that the high school was able to make the students

recognize their inability to cope without their technology. The students at one point mentioned

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that they felt powerless without their phones. But at least they had the opportunity to unplug and

step foot into world of true connection. As the students were getting prepared to get their

phones taken away. They all took a pledge about technology addiction and went all with their

day without their phone. Fast forward the next day. The teacher had noticed that the

atmosphere was different and that his classroom was much louder because the students were

conversing more. To conclude is online communication negatively affecting interpersonal

relationship. Society has adapted to the new way of contacting. New technology has stripped

the way people have related and connected on a personal level. The hard truth is that the

internet is the cause of the interpersonal relationship to basically vanish. Well not entirely vanish

from the face of the earth. But it's more difficult for an individual to step out of their comfort zone

and communicate on a day to day bases with another person.

The Internet promotes social interaction:

Some people use and find that online communication is a quick way to send and receive

messages, allowing others to build a social group, Facebook page, quickly build an awareness

of certain issues. There are various things that have caused today’s society to turn towards

online communication: Innovators, mass development of technology, incoming companies.

Having the free will to use the internet, one is able to hind behind handles and create avatars for

themselves. Furthermore, people are not compelled to display the usual markers of age, gender

and race. Online communication provides opportunities to experiment self-representation, to

step into a world of others. An article was created in 2012 that contained information on media

influencing teenagers. “Children and youth spend more time using media than they do engage

in any other activity. They have more opportunity to learn about themselves, their sexuality, and

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the nature of relationships from media…” ( Rich, Michael., 2012). The act of spending more time

on media helps the youth learn about themselves. It’s very easy for an individual to access the

media to be able to communicate to others that have the information. Also, they are able to

access a variety of online sources and media platform. it is much easier to access the media

and get right onto communicating with friends or others. Online has increased the overall

capacity for social interactions and changes the game in complex ways. The internet

encourages a variety of social relationships. People become more interested with each other

and build a bond with one another. So far to think simplistically online communication is a

substitute for many people instead of physically going out to communicate. In other words,

people are able to keep some sort of contact with many more people without any movement

involved.

Internet:

The internet is a place where an individual is able to meet new people, make new friends and

basically grow a relationship by communicating online. This article has stated that “the internet

has emerged as a new, but the little-understood environment for meeting sexual partners.”

(Rich, Michael., 2012). If someone got the opportunity to meet someone online and that person

is interesting, than it is obvious that the person would want to meet them. It isn’t so much the

looks, but simply the want to meet them “in flesh.” Such as going to the movies instead of

talking about the movies. The internet has improved the field of cultural education, by allowing

children to speak with kids from different cultures. By using computer-mediated communication,

such as instant messages and emails. It has improved international relationships by making

communication more accessible globally. Online communication has helped businesses

internationally grow and the important part of that businesses have the opportunity to

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understand cultures of other countries. All around the internet world has increased the flow of

communication within workplaces, education, and relationships.

Cell phone for communication:

Sherry Turkle at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “says the power of the latest cell

phones lies in the fact that they are "always on, always on you". With this capability, she says,

the devices effectively become an appendage to our body and mind that plays a role in

everything from our social interactions to emotions.” (Turkle, Sherry., 2011). What is interesting

is that social interactions comes from a cell phone-our mind and body have adapted quickly to

the new change in today’s society that anyone can start a conversation without moving a

muscle. What is fascinating is that emotions can be expressed on a cell phone screen. Texting

has never been so easy for individuals. The apps that are created from developers make it far

too easy to start an online conversation. Apps have found a meaningful place in people's lives.

Technology has changed the way people are able to communicate to one another, but this was

over time. The development of new technology has profoundly affected human communication:

the ability to communicate has changed as a result of new materials and devices that are

available for consumers to use on a regular day to day bases. Gravity Tank's Michael Winnick.

"If you can access information and computing power anywhere and anytime, it'll impact on every

part of human behavior." (Fisher, Richard., 2009).

Opinion:

I have clearly stated that online communication does negatively affect interpersonal relationship.

But I also have stated that no, online communication does not negatively affect interpersonal

relationship. Having these two opposing viewpoints. I believe that looking at these viewpoints

sort of helps today's society waking up a little bit; seeing how life has changed with the use of

online communication. I believe it's late for individuals to stop what has already been taken into

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full effect. I'm glad that there have been experiments done by schools, scientists and teachers

that realize the situation. It helps enlights individuals and lets them know that they can't survive

without their cell phone for even 24 hours.

But at the same time it does help to build upon at least a communication and developing sort of

emotions rather meeting a person that you met online or just met in school. But the real truth is

that with this new source of communication there's no way of taking it away. Controlling it would

be a more reasonable thing to do. I just hope that in the near future online communication will

always be there because I feel it's more beneficial especially once you meet others in your life.

Also to communicate with family members and friends.

I don’t agree with the statement that online communication has affected interpersonal

relationships. In today's society most people have a cell phone and to communicate quickly or

to basically get to know the person right away is through the cell phone screen you may have a

moment where they're saying something and you're interested in them and you basically asked

them for their number, is online communication taking away the interpersonal relationship right

there? I believe so but it does help the interpersonal relationship develop. But what is different

with this relationship is that it's a fresh start. Ongoing relationships I understand if your husband

or wife or your significant other is not paying attention to you. But, online communication has

developed many relationships or has helped build relationships.

Conclusion:

Concluding the final results of rather online communication negatively affects interpersonal

relationship. Countless research has been done to prove both ethical sides. These research

can’t change what is currently happening, but it can give an insight to let others be aware of the

issue and change their routine. Point a view one has three sources to support the reasons as to

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why online communication affects interpersonal relationship, the first research focused on

married couples and their partners being to distracted from their cell phones, second focused on

the rise of BlackBerry and how a woman was very attached to the advancement of BlackBerry.

The third and final research focused on a high school (Maplewood High). The school was

dealing with a lot of students being very unsocial and distracted by their phone. The staff

decided to test the students on rather they could survive 24 hours without their phones. What

struck the staff more is that the class was loud and interacting with one another: Rather yelling

at them to be quiet they were pleased about the students communicating. On the other

perspective enthusiast and researchers has provided their opinions and research to deny the

fact that online communication negatively affects interpersonal relationship. It’s up to the

individual to change how they would like to communicate to friends and family. The world has

adapted to the new changes and the way people can communicate with one another. Now it’s

up the the individual on how they are able to use the network to develop a sustainable

relationship.

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