Internet or
cyber communication is paradoxical; whilst in many ways it keeps us connected
with friends, family and colleagues by creating an easily accessible platform
for intrapersonal communication, it is questionable whether it is doing more
harm than good to our social interactions.
I guess
being a frequent user myself I should mention the blatant benefits of cyber
communication which encourages me to utilise it several times a day. The chief
benefit of internet communication, via e-mail, Skype, and social networks such
as Facebook is convenience. The internet provides the opportunity to reach multiple
individuals at the one time, anywhere, anytime, irrespective of physical constraints
such as weather or sickness. Cyber communication enables me to contact friends
and family who I simply cannot get in touch with physically, it enables me to
communicate with family and friends overseas at costs that are far less detrimental
to my wallet than an international phone call.
However
cyber communication does at times confine me to my room, or the library or even
prevents me from participating in face
to face interactions. Unconsciously I disregard my physical surroundings due to
my fixation on Facebook or Skype. Some
instances, I find myself communicating to my friends over the internet not out
of convenience but pure laziness. But is the internet taking over face to face social
interactions?
A study
conducted by Baym et al (2004) investigated university students’ communication
online and compared it with face to face interactions. Findings
of the study showed that while the internet was heavily incorporated into
university students’ social lives, face to face communication persisted as the
main form of interactions. Despite face to face communication still remaining
dominant, internet communication was still perceived to be a significantly high
percentage.
Bargh
and McKenna (2004) reviewed several academic articles and found a general
consensus that internet communication is an inferior and desensitising form of social interaction compared to
traditional face to face, and thus will equate to negative consequences such as
loneliness and depression for its users.
Cyber
communication comprises of pros and cons, but one thing is certain, it plays a
significant role in modern social interactions and in all honestly without it I
would be lost at times.
References
Bargh J.A.,
Mckenna K.Y.A., 2004, “The Internet and Social Life”, Annyal Reviews of Psychology, vol. 55, pp. 573-590
Baym N.K.,
Zhang Y.B., Lin M., 2004, “Social Interactions Across MediaInterpersonal
Communication on the Internet, Telephone and Face-to-Face”, New Media and Society, vol. 6, no. 3,
pp. 299-318
Ross, Drew.
2007. “Backstage with the Knowledge Boys and Girls: Goffman and Distributed
Agency in an Organic Online Community.” Organization Studies vol. 28,
no. 03: pp. 307–325
I agree with your remark that internet communication is increasing. I my self, am part of an online community centered on a clothing brand 'Black Milk Clothing'. It is a remarkable community which has various groups based on location and interest all of which are on facebook. 'Black milk girls of NSW', 'Black Milk Animal Lovers', 'Black Milk fitness group', Black milk gaming group', 'Black Milk Buy, Swap, Sell' (to swap preowned items from the clothing company amongst the customers - organised by the customers). All of these groups are run and organised by volunteers who do not work for the clothing company. They organise meet ups in which mass amounts of girls (sometimes boys) gather at one particular location, this happens all over the world. Just recently there was a massive meet up in Las Vegas for all the American 'sharkies' as the customers are titled, in which they were surprised by a visit from the designer 'jL' and the his second in command, Cam.
ReplyDeleteThis probably sounds really weird and stuff but it is actually an amazing community in which people get to talk to other people all over the world and share a love for different things based on their love for this company. It truly is a community for those involved, but it still encourages face-to-face communication through the meetups and friendships made between people. It could be something worth looking at if you were using this for the end of semester assignment.