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Essay on How Does Facebook and Twitter Affect Social Interaction

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Today, we live in a world that is more interconnected than ever before. The invention of the internet, cellphones, and computers have almost made everyone and everything within the reach of our fingertips. With the evolution of communications technology, methods of political participation and civic engagement have also changed to adapt to this advance made by mankind. Before, our choice was limited to holding demonstrations, going out to the streets, and protesting in order for our voices to be heard. Consequently, we had no choice but to resort to lobbying and writing letters to politicians for our concerns to be known. In the present time, communication among people has been made easier with the aid of technology. Cellphones and …show more content…

Specifically, it is social media that has increased the capability of different actors – activists, citizens, non-governmental institutions, media - to connect and relate with each other in terms of the various political issues that is present in our society. It has provided the platform where a new agora in the modern era can be established. Truly, social media has made it easier for citizens to share information among themselves and has lowered the cost of participating in society.
Statement of the Problem
The accessability to participation that the internet brings was initially thought to enhance and increase political participation. Unfortunately, social media isn’t as helpful as it was initially thought out to be. Some scholars have stated that ‘slacktivism’ or political activities done through the internet have no political or social impact whatsoever. Slacktivism only serves the purpose of making these supposed ‘activists’ feel good about themselves. It makes slacktivists think that they are significantly contributing to a cause that they believe in by doing nothing more than joining a Facebook group or signing a petition. These actions make slacktivists think that they have done something that can change how society is which is why they are less likely to go out in the streets. Moreover, these online activities have been criticized as being a hindrance to change since, as said by Putnam (quoted in Christensen 2011), “people are unable

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