Technology’s Detrimental Effects on Communication

Mediated communication channels, especially ones that allow us to directly interact with others such as mobile phones and social networks, rely primarily on language to achieve shared meaning.”(Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K., 2014. Sec.4.4). We need to pay attention to how much computer mediated communication we use not only because it is the number one way to communicate with others who are close and far away from you but also we can tend to use it way to much and walk right into the wall, literally. “According to Online IT Degree (2011), 200 trillion (that's 200,000,000,000,000) text messages were received in America each day during 2011, which is more than the amount of regular ground mail items received in one year.”(Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K., 2014. Sec.4.4).That is a lot of messages and a lot of time using your phone, and not paying attention to your immediate surroundings. Also mediated communication uses very little nonverbal communication, so no emotions or gestures are there to help the reader understand how the person they are communicating with feels. On the other side by using this type of communication it can make the person reading it focus on what is actually being said rather than they body language being used.. There are good and bad things about text messaging and email, computer communication. I have had some bad experiences, and have vowed to use this type of

Have you ever been talking to someone, but they are not actually listening? Today’s generations are growing up in a digital age where the meaning of communication has been altered. Our society has seen the positive and negative effects of technology. However, technology is one of the contributing factors that are affecting our social skills. Kids and even adults are finding themselves unable to interact with the people around them. The very technology that has simplified life is now breeding anxiety. Phycologists around the world define social skills as the personal skills that are necessary for human interaction and communication. Though the list of social skills can range from effective communication to accepting differences, socials skills generally fall into three categories: seeing, thinking, and doing (Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D.). The isolation that technology causes are prevalent in all age groups causing a disconnect from reality. Dismally, the youth of today is being forced to live in a world dominated by the technological age. So, can we blame the kids, who lack vital social skills, for not being able to hold a conversation?

In her article “Type me How You Feel: Quasi-Nonverbal Cues in Computer-Mediated Communication,” Carter explores the implications associated with nonverbal perceptions in type written communication. In today’s age, interaction comes in many forms; as societies progress technologically, so does the exchange of language through text based messages also referred to as Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). Non-verbal communication is interpersonal communication through visual, body gestures, and facial expressions. Carter highlights that CMC is limited in regards to nonverbal cues. Typewritten messages, compared to face-to-face interaction (FtF), create a lack of trust, remove spontaneity in interaction, generate ambiguity, and cause a time barrier between the individuals communicating. Although Carter pinpointed some key implications to the proliferation of CMC, she failed to identify the key advantages found in typewritten communication. Social Information Processing Theory (SIP), founded by Joseph Walther in 1992, offers an understanding of how people communicating through text develop their interpersonal relationships, given that the parties constantly communicate. By applying SIP to Carter’s points of analysis, Carter’s concerns with CMC are answered and a more clear understanding of the potential to create interpersonal relationships via CMC emerges, regardless of the limitations associated with the lack of non-verbal cues.

This generation has become so involved with the technological world that people are lacking qualities needed to become successful without it. “‘We expect more from technology and less from one another,’ this is because we have relied on our technology for so long, that we develop a relationship that causes us to think it will never lead us astray or tell us any wrong.” It’s becoming so common to meet people through our cell phones, that we are slowly losing the ability to meet new people face to face. “The experience of using and analyzing verbal rhetoric that is gained through a face to face conversation or discussion is something that cannot be taught or acquired through technological means of communication” (Dougherty). When communicating through cell phones, the experience of seeing one’s facial expressions is lost. Along with hearing the tone of voice, and the ability to use these clues to help decipher the true meaning. The lack of face to face conversations is causing people to lose the ability to speak in front of others.

In the United States today adults commonly do not associate today’s youth in a positive light. The youth in today’s society are extremely privileged with technology being a big part of everyday life.

The subject of technology taking over peoples lives gets to be more and more of a touchy subject in peoples lives as technology progresses. We all would like to think that technology does not run our lives but in every way shape and form, it does. Technology has gotten to the extent where people's cell phones are more powerful than some desk top computers. People have the ability to do almost anything from just basic web browsing to buying and selling stocks on their cell phones. We take advantage of our technology no matter where we are or what we are doing. Just so we can feel like we are "keeping up with the Jones'".

Maria Furukawa states that “Advancements, particularly in handheld devices, such as smartphones, iPads, and smart-watches, have made our lives more efficient by making everything we need accessible at the tap of a screen or a swipe to the left. Essentially, technology has taken the “hard work” of talking to someone in person, of physically reading a book and of using our minds to do some mental math and replaced it with a device. I have noticed that technology, ironically, disconnects us from living in the present moment. Even though we try our hardest to communicate what we mean over text, there is still a possibility for miscommunication or misinterpretation of what was written. If instead, a conversation was held in person, facial expressions, changes in tone, and hand gestures are some ways that miscommunication can be avoided.” (Furukawa 2017) People can create a virtual world by using these devices with the increase of screen time and internet usage. They are subjected to advertisements, unrealistic standards, online bullying and constant access to negative information. In this virtual world, there are numerous sites for social networking. In this case, people do not need to physically interact with one another and can espouse any persona to their present need.

Ask your local teenager or “millennial” their favorite accessory, companion, or resource, and you will most likely receive a common answer: their cell phone. Confusing and recent changes in social interactions have led our devices with access to the internet into becoming an extra limb. Because of the reality-altering effect of social media and the ever-growing availability of information, a quick search or refresh leads to an abundance of answers and outlets through tabs on tabs of various websites. In response to the “digital age” enveloped by social media, “connectivity”, and open information, adolescents with easy internet access are attracted to the availability and secrecy the internet has

Jenna Wortham believes that “we are now in constant and continuous communication with our friends, co-workers and family” and with the help of advancing technology keeping this type of communication going is not difficult (394). Although many believe that certain forms of technology can be detrimental to how we are able to communicate with others, it can be seen to have positive effects with most Americans. Technology has been seen to keep friends and family close, even if there is a physical distance. It has also decreased the gap between people of different backgrounds. Those who have difficulties using technology believe that it could hinder the growth of communication in personal relationships, yet some technology like Skype, text

Face-to-face communication seems to be a dying art – replaced by text messaging, e-mails, and social media. Human communication and interactions are shaped by available technologies.

Most adults would say that kids in today's day and age have it a thousand times easier than they did when they were young. They might have had to walk 30 miles to school in the rain, however, they were not faced with modern technology and the potentially harmful side effects it has on youth. The harmful effects of technology on youth tends to be overlooked, especially by parents who do not pay this topic any attention. In turn, this allows their children to develop mental and social health issues.

All the while technology advances and continues to develop, the method in which are relied on for communication changes as well. As a result of evolving industries, the way people communicate begins to shift because of society moves forward with the technology. As Kriz Axtman and David Crystal point out in their essays, “‘r u online?’: The Evolving Lexicon of Wired Teens.” and “Texting”, new innovation, social tendencies, and beliefs in life, all have been influenced by modern forms of communication. Instant messaging, online chat rooms, and tweeting have ended up surprisingly mainstream, and have pioneered some of the most favored ways to have immediate communication; language, likewise, started to change as individuals discovered better approaches to abbreviate words and expressions and permitting simpler and more efficient messaging. Additionally, because these forms of communication became much more utilized, text lingo has become a part of millennial culture. Some examples of this include verbal usage of text shortcuts such as “OMG” for “oh my gosh”, which show just how much we have become accustomed to learning a whole new language of sorts, in order to keep up with trends. This can be interpreted in that it reveals how rooted messaging is becoming in society, as well as how it impacts our everyday lives.

With the span of cell phone production in America, it’s unlikely you will see someone without one. Across the US, millions of people have a mobile device and many of which are teenagers. Adolescents can be found on their phones constantly; whether it’s at school, in public, or at home. Teens are so caught up in their devices that they fail to experience the world around them. In today's generation, millennials are walking zombies. Cell phones have completely attracted teenagers attention, making them so oblivious to reality. Teens are too susceptible on smartphones.

In today’s modern society, technology is commonly thought of as a necessity. This thought can mainly associate with the youth of today. Youth of today can be described as children, teenagers, and young adults living in this day and age. Children and young adults alike have only lived in a world run by technology in their lifetime. Youth depends on technology because they do not know how to live without it. Modern technology includes cell phones, lap tops, television, and many other devices. Technology allows for use in many different settings and has countless uses. However, the negative attributes of technology completely outweigh its positive attributes. Technology has a negative effect on today’s youth because it weakens social skills,

The use of the phone, in the society, had made a significant change in the way of establishing a relationship with others. Before technology arrived, people were more concentrated and used to pay more attention to the social interaction. Individuals’ lives are always busy, and using technology can facilitate their problems. Having a proper manner at the time people develop a face-to-face conversation is essential. They do not notice how rude it can be when they start texting in a middle of a conversation. These kinds of individuals exist anywhere. There are a lot of pictures on the internet showing up how technology is ruining our communication by the use of the devices, such as smartphone and cellphones. Most of the people who are being impolite do not even realize what they are doing. The author of “Keep Your Thumbs Still When I’m Talking to You” (Carr) did the best job of communicating with a college audience showing the importance of learning about values that we need to have present while a conversation with another person is happening.