Elijah Cross

EN 102

Response Essay

4 February 2020

Is Online Communication Bad for You?

Could technology really be bad for the way we interact with others in person or could it

be beneficial. Well, there are many that truly believe that it is very beneficial. In her essay “I had

a Nice Time With You Tonight. On the App,” Jenna Wortham makes it known that she believes

that apps for communicating through technology do not hurt in-person interactions; in fact, she

feels that it actually helps her in-person interactions. I agree with Wortham when she notes that

these apps are more casual, make one-on-one meetings more exciting, and can help strengthen

relationships.

Apps for communicating, such as Messenger, Snapchat, Skype, etc., make it possible to

have more casual and less formal interactions with other people. Wortham claims, “Because this

kind of communication is less formal than a phone call or an email, it feels more like the kind of

casual conversation you might have over a meal or watching television together” (394). To

summarize, she believes texting and virtual communication are less stressful because of how

casual it is. I agree with Wortham’s claim that these communications are more casual. When I

am texting, it is not as stressful because I can take however long I want to think about how I

want to reply, but if I am on a phone call or if I am having an in person interaction, I cannot

spend a long time trying to think about how I want to respond since it has to be an on the spot

answer. This makes texting extremely casual.

 These apps give people experience in communication and allow them to be more

comfortable and prepared when they have in-person interactions. Wortham believes, “The

pervasiveness of technology in my life has heightened my desire for actual one-on-one

meetings” (396). In essence, she thinks that having these casual conversations makes it more fun

when having face-to-face interactions. I believe that Wortham’s claim is correct because after not

talking to someone in person and only over technology, it makes people more prepared and

willing to talk in person. Due to not living very close to some family members, we have to

communicate over text or Facebook Messenger. We only see each other once or twice a year, but

whenever we do, these moments are more special because it is not common and we already

know what to talk about because of our conversations online.

In addition to making in-person interactions more special, these apps can help strengthen

relationships and friendships. Wortham states, “In many cases, adding the Internet to the mix can

strengthen a relationship overall” (396). In short, she believes that virtual communication allows

relationships to stay strong and get stronger. I agree with her claim because technology allows

people to stay in touch anywhere and everywhere. Messaging apps allow us to communicate no

matter where we are and no matter what time it is. Due to this constant communication, it allows

us to stay in touch with people, keeping the relationship strong. This summer I will be moving to

Virginia and because of these messaging apps, I will be able to stay in touch with my friends and

family, keeping our relationships strong.

In Jenna Wortham’s essay “I had a Nice Time With You Tonight. On the App,” she

makes it known that she believes that online communicating is not bad for in-person interaction

and actually has positive effects. She believes these apps are less stressful, make people ready for
in person conversations, and make relationships stronger. I agree with Wortham’s beliefs and

think that online communication is beneficial for everyone. Online communication will be

around for a very long time, so might as well make the best out of it.
 Work Cited

Wortham, Jenna. "I had a Nice Time With You Tonight. On the App." They Say I Say with

Readings, by Gerald Graff et al., 3rd ed., New York, W.W. Norton and Company, 2012,

pp. 393-98