Draft #1 of Exploratory Essay
Is technology and its platforms making humans more lonely?
Technology has become an essential element of the twenty first century. Technology and its platforms has advanced in various ways. It’s innovation has
progressed throughout the years; it has changed the way we live, the way we purchase items online, the way we interact and also the way we learn. The demand for propelling the type of technology we utilize is high. Practically everything we use today has been evolved into better standards. For example, cell phones. The kind of phones we had in the nineties are no longer the same as the ones we use today, they have been innovated.
The advance of technology and its platforms has its positive and negative implications. Technology has been an open door for individuals to feel either lonely and isolated or more connected with society. It can be viewed as if technology and its power had escaped from human control. However, technology and social networks have also improved our quality of life. A French sociologist, Émile Durkheim, defined loneliness as the inability to live for others, as well as the overwhelming feeling of disconnection or miscommunication with other individuals. Experiencing loneliness can be very upsetting, because one does not have any company or friends. People tend to feel alone when they
Technology has become an essential element of the twenty first century. Technology and its platforms has advanced in various ways. It’s innovation has
progressed throughout the years; it has changed the way we live, the way we purchase items online, the way we interact and also the way we learn. The demand for propelling the type of technology we utilize is high. Practically everything we use today has been evolved into better standards. For example, cell phones. The kind of phones we had in the nineties are no longer the same as the ones we use today, they have been innovated.
The advance of technology and its platforms has its positive and negative implications. Technology has been an open door for individuals to feel either lonely and isolated or more connected with society. It can be viewed as if technology and its power had escaped from human control. However, technology and social networks have also improved our quality of life. A French sociologist, Émile Durkheim, defined loneliness as the inability to live for others, as well as the overwhelming feeling of disconnection or miscommunication with other individuals. Experiencing loneliness can be very upsetting, because one does not have any company or friends. People tend to feel alone when they
lack social interactions with other individuals. However, people might also experience
the feeling of company, love or even fulfilment through that same screen.
Positive Effects of Technology and it’s Platforms
Conversating and socializing online has helped individuals find an understanding and encouraging support network which influences them to feel less alone. According to Roberta Biolcati and Diania Cani from the education Science University of Bologna “The use of SNSs can improve the well-being of lonely people through the facilitation of self disclosure and social network support” (2). As they stated in the article social network sites such as, instagram, facebook, twitter, could make individuals feel less lonely and more connected to people that are far away from them. Technology is helping individuals have more social interactions through social networks. It’s making them socialize more because it’s easier to type a message quickly on your phone and send it rather than physically call someone. Texting is an easier way of communicating in which two people can have a conversation no matter the distance. Using these social networks help people develop more courage in communicating with others, and constant communication makes individuals feel like they always have that one person to speak to over the phone, or that one person to share their moments and ideas with through a screen, which helps the individual feel less lonely and more accompanied.
The internet and it’s platforms is a typical and common place to meet individuals and
start a relationship. Online dating is one of the most common and popular ways to meet a significant other or only just a friend. We are technically living in an era where dating apps like Tinder exists for people to find partners and physically or emotionally develop a relationship.
Positive Effects of Technology and it’s Platforms
Conversating and socializing online has helped individuals find an understanding and encouraging support network which influences them to feel less alone. According to Roberta Biolcati and Diania Cani from the education Science University of Bologna “The use of SNSs can improve the well-being of lonely people through the facilitation of self disclosure and social network support” (2). As they stated in the article social network sites such as, instagram, facebook, twitter, could make individuals feel less lonely and more connected to people that are far away from them. Technology is helping individuals have more social interactions through social networks. It’s making them socialize more because it’s easier to type a message quickly on your phone and send it rather than physically call someone. Texting is an easier way of communicating in which two people can have a conversation no matter the distance. Using these social networks help people develop more courage in communicating with others, and constant communication makes individuals feel like they always have that one person to speak to over the phone, or that one person to share their moments and ideas with through a screen, which helps the individual feel less lonely and more accompanied.
The internet and it’s platforms is a typical and common place to meet individuals and
start a relationship. Online dating is one of the most common and popular ways to meet a significant other or only just a friend. We are technically living in an era where dating apps like Tinder exists for people to find partners and physically or emotionally develop a relationship.
Emma Reynold states in her article that “ The internet holds great promise for helping adults form
healthy and supportive romantic partnerships, and those relationships are one of the best
predictors of emotional and physical health”. (1) Implying that meeting an individual and having
an online relationship with an individual through the internet can help one's physical health.
People who date online tend to spend a lot of time texting and seeing each other through a
webcam. Generally, all these online activities create a wide web of connections, even if no actual
relationship is developed. Online dating makes people feel less alone. It relieves the loneliness
that dwells inside of them because one feels like they have that someone that is always there.
Negative Effects of Technology and its Platforms
Social networking sites can make you experience loneliness even when you are not alone.
Komal Rai and Gurpreet Gill stated that “ the individuals who use more social networking sites such as Facebook are lonelier than the person who don't use or use minimal these sites” (4). People who are constantly over-using technology and its platforms tend to feel more socially
Negative Effects of Technology and its Platforms
Social networking sites can make you experience loneliness even when you are not alone.
Komal Rai and Gurpreet Gill stated that “ the individuals who use more social networking sites such as Facebook are lonelier than the person who don't use or use minimal these sites” (4). People who are constantly over-using technology and its platforms tend to feel more socially
isolated, because most of the time those
are stuck to their phones. People might feel
connected to someone away from them through
but socially isolated with the people around them.
tend to ignore and not interact with the people
them just to be on their phones. This online visual aid, courtesy of the odyssey online depicts how this modern day couple is together. Embracing each other but at the same time giving their attention to their electronic devices. This goes to show how even when individuals are physically
are stuck to their phones. People might feel
connected to someone away from them through
but socially isolated with the people around them.
tend to ignore and not interact with the people
them just to be on their phones. This online visual aid, courtesy of the odyssey online depicts how this modern day couple is together. Embracing each other but at the same time giving their attention to their electronic devices. This goes to show how even when individuals are physically
individuals
socially
their phones
Individuals
around
interacting with each other, they isolate themselves by using their phones and seeing other
people’s lives through a screen instead of paying attention and spending quality time with the
person they are with at the moment. Individuals believe that they are connected because of these
devices, but in real life, they are not really connected.
Technology and its social networks are separating individuals in unmistakable ways. It is giving us a convincing reason not to converse or interact with each other. According to Sabine Matboo, Jeff Cummings, and Hillol Bala in their article about online social networks features on loneliness, they discuss how “ Some users who only consume information that others share have developed feelings of envy, emotional withdrawal, and loneliness” (2) . Watching other people’s digital lives is a defective replacement for real world interactions. Social media can make people compare their lives and themselves to others because it provides individuals with countless online platforms that help to rapidly trigger that unpleasant self disdain. It can cause people to start questioning their appearance, accomplishments and sometimes even the way they act. With edited images that make people or things appear perfect or more appealing than natural, existing things. “ [U]sers experience social isolation when they passively consume user-generated- content because of their lack of interaction” (Matboo et al, 9). This quote explains how when people indulge into mindless consumption of their technological devices, they tend to feel more at a disconnect with their surroundings and the world around them. It is difficult for our brain to put down the constant stream of captivating information and distractions that advanced technology provides us with, to simply be available in a social connection.
Technology and its social networks are separating individuals in unmistakable ways. It is giving us a convincing reason not to converse or interact with each other. According to Sabine Matboo, Jeff Cummings, and Hillol Bala in their article about online social networks features on loneliness, they discuss how “ Some users who only consume information that others share have developed feelings of envy, emotional withdrawal, and loneliness” (2) . Watching other people’s digital lives is a defective replacement for real world interactions. Social media can make people compare their lives and themselves to others because it provides individuals with countless online platforms that help to rapidly trigger that unpleasant self disdain. It can cause people to start questioning their appearance, accomplishments and sometimes even the way they act. With edited images that make people or things appear perfect or more appealing than natural, existing things. “ [U]sers experience social isolation when they passively consume user-generated- content because of their lack of interaction” (Matboo et al, 9). This quote explains how when people indulge into mindless consumption of their technological devices, they tend to feel more at a disconnect with their surroundings and the world around them. It is difficult for our brain to put down the constant stream of captivating information and distractions that advanced technology provides us with, to simply be available in a social connection.
Conclusion
It can be said that overall, a higher usage of technology and its platforms can result in a
person either feeling more connected to their environment or secluded from those around them. Research shows that individuals tend to abuse the usage of said technology. This usually leads them to feel lonely and isolated rather than the people who give minimal use to these platforms and take heed of natural, interpersonal communication. Technology undoubtedly affects the way we view ourselves, as well as the way we see other people and how we interact with the world. Technology has definitely come a long way from black and white televisions, pay phones, and floppy disks. It has evolved into something that is undeniably essential and incredibly important in our everyday lives.
It can be said that overall, a higher usage of technology and its platforms can result in a
person either feeling more connected to their environment or secluded from those around them. Research shows that individuals tend to abuse the usage of said technology. This usually leads them to feel lonely and isolated rather than the people who give minimal use to these platforms and take heed of natural, interpersonal communication. Technology undoubtedly affects the way we view ourselves, as well as the way we see other people and how we interact with the world. Technology has definitely come a long way from black and white televisions, pay phones, and floppy disks. It has evolved into something that is undeniably essential and incredibly important in our everyday lives.
Reference:
-
- Matbook, Sabine et al “Are You Feeling Lonely? The Impact of Relationship
Characteristics and Online Social Network Features on Loneliness” journal of
Management Information Systems/ Spring 2015.
-
- Biolcati, Roberta et al “ Feeling alone among friends: Adolescence, social network and
loneliness” December, 2015
-
- Rai, Komal et al “ Loneliness in relation to social networking site usage among
university students” Indian journal of Health and Wellbeing/ 2016
-
- Fellizar, Kristine. “Online Dating Is The Second Most Popular Way To Meet Someone,
Says New Study, And More Things To Know About Dating In The Digital Age.” Bustle , Bustle, 24 Aug. 2015.
Comments
Post a Comment