The Global Use and Deficiency Paradigms: The Trend Between Online and Offline Social Interactions

Because of the internet, people adopt a kind of "invisibility." The theme proves that this invisibility has an intriguing effect on society. As Scott Westerfeld said in the afterword, “perhaps the internet is serving as a mass experiment in invisibility. Most online environments lack any way to communicate facial expressions; all of us are wrapped in bandages or hidden in the uncanny costume of an avatar. And when removed from the social fabric of visual cues-smiles and frowns ad nods-many of us react to one another as we would to something almost human” (179). I felt that this was a very important piece of information to factor in when coming to this conclusion. The incrementing lack of human interaction with one another is causing society’s social skills to slowly fade away. When asked, most people would say it is easier to talk and interact with somebody online rather than in person. Interacting online creates a sort of distance, like an uncanny costume, that can isolate one from humanity. I feel as if the internet has affected today's generation, including myself, the most. Before posting a picture, everyone feels the need to edit the photo just so it can be “social media worthy”. Along with that, Westerfield also says of John Suler’s article that he "describes the tendency of otherwise well-adjusted people to behave antisocially

A prevalent issue regarding social media and interactions exists between researchers and social network users. Social media is currently changing how relationships between people are created. Relationships can exist through people across the world through social media and can produce more emotional bonds with friends that you can see everyday. On the other hand, social media also could present conflicts due to the fact that some of these relationships can become unhealthy and that people could change to be more dependent on internet friends, becoming introverted.

Over the last 30 years, the methods of human interactions have grown explosively, from face-to-face conversations, to video calling, instant messaging, texting, Facebook, Youtube, Snapchat, and Instagram. As the technology we surround ourselves with pervades an increasing number of aspects in our lives, it has begun to affect our mental health. A Carnegie Mellon study concluding that internet usage leads to significant increases in loneliness and depression received U.S. national media coverage (Kraut, Patterson, et al., 1998). However, others argue that the internet may just provide a place of refuge for those suffering from loneliness, anxiety, and depression. (McKenna and Bargh, 59)

A recent study published in 2016 by a team of researchers found that in a survey of 1,787 adults, ages 19-32 there was a “strong and significant association between social media use and depression in a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults” (Lindsey et al.). This is not the first study to confirm the hypothesis that social media use causes depression, but it is the most recent and largest study to date and it confirms the findings of other smaller studies done. Perhaps social media makes lonely people less lonely by allowing them to easily meet new people or rekindle old social bonds. However, a study lead by social psychologist Robert Kraut on depression and internet use found that users who were introverted were more likely to feel depressed and lonely using the internet that extroverted internet users (49-74). Social media has even given way to a new term, FOMO…or the fear of missing out which users can experience as they peruse Facebook. Not only does the internet hardwire us for depression, but its driving content can make us feel more lonely or

Rough Draft Essay “The words social implies relationship and human interaction,”(Fleck, 136) however, that is no longer the case. In our society today, our interactions with media are “replacing face-to-face interactions, resulting in lower quality social interactions” (Becker, 132). In addition, the way we communicate, to the way that we feel, are being dominated by social media. We turn to online forums such as “Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram…”(Fleck, 136) and more rather than having human interactions.

“Social media is an amazing tool, but it's really the face-to-face interaction that makes a long-term impact,” said Felicia Day. In the world of today, social connection sites have taken over. During the last ten years the idea of the internet being used consistently has gone from a small idea ot everyday life. Studies have shown that constant use of social media in any form has led to a lower level of life satisfaction and a higher procrastination rate. It has also come under scrutinty based on the idea that the internet can be considered a high risk problem for creating morally corrupt standards that sporadically become accepted. If nothing else, a constant use of social media creates a wormhole where time is vaccumed up

Interacting with other people can difficult and at times even unpleasant, but at the end of the day it is a task everyone has to overcome, or not. In Alone Together Turtkle writes of how we have come to readily accept a more technological based world saying, “ Technology is seductive when what it offers meets our human vulnerabilities” (263 Turkle). Today technology allows its users to communicate with others without ever having to see their face via text or email, meeting the vulnerability of being awkward and boring during a conversation in real life. Yet, avoiding actual interaction with people diminishes a persons social intelligence, making a conversing with others all the more difficult as they can no longer rely on the controlled atmosphere of messaging system and have to deal with unexpected questions and topics. Moreover, in the same article Turtle discuses the younger generation aversion to human interaction, she write, “ Teenagers avoid making telephone calls, fearful that they ‘reveal too much’. They would rather text than talk”( Turtle 272). Technology provides a controlled environment in which one decides to what degree he or she would like to interact with other, but this is not how the real world works. One can text answers for a job interview or email the news of a sick relative, somethings have to be done in person. Accordingly, in Tough’s article social intelligence is defined as, “ the ability to recognize interpersonal dynamics and adapt quickly to different social situations”( Tough 2). Online users do not exhibit social intelligence, the online domain is posses no new social situations to adapt to, is something makes one uncomfortable or annoyed they can simply “x” out of a window or go to another website. Increased reliance on technology will hinder the development of character, especially social

But this has ceased to exist after the introduction of Smartphone 's and the internet. People prefer to chat in the many social media offered on the internet and accessed by their Smartphone 's, play games, listen to music and even blog than strike a conversation with a person sited next (Tuckle, 2011, 23). As much as people are communicating more, a threat of communication becoming more of quantity than quality is emerging. As much as the use of Smartphone 's and internet has expanded people socially and geographically, it drives people from authentic relations. Too much use of Smartphone 's and web results in declining people social circle. It is a fact that the more time people spend on their Smartphone 's and the internet the less time they has with their families, friends and other people in the society.

Ellison, Steinfield and Lampe identify that social networking sites are among the main use of internet today. According to the authors, social networking sites are among the social media platforms that facilitate interaction in the computer environment. The writers identify the main motives for using social networking sites, for example, Facebook. One of the benefits is that Facebook improves the quality of life both social and at workplaces. According to the writers, social media has become common in the society that a majority cannot remember previous life without them. Social networking sites have become popular among college students who find it as a major platform for social interaction.

Social network technology does not create havens for people with narcissistic tendencies and/or poor self-esteem. In the article, “Are Social Networks Messing with Your Head?”, David Resalvo is asking if social media is messing with mental health. He writes about how social media networks have evolved from a fad to a trend. He expresses the possibility of a relationship between loneliness and the use of social media networks. The article also expresses that people may use social media networks to boost their self-esteem.

Research has found that more extreme Internet use has been linked with various measures of loneliness. This is due to weaker social ties being formed online which are substituting stronger offline ties with friends and family (Kraut et al., 1998). SNSs are advantageous for preserving large networks of weak ties, because these sites allow for efficient and easy maintenance of such relationships (Donath & Boyd, 2004). According to Ryan &

Excessive use of social media creates a significan amount of personal problems within active users. Online self-presentation and self-esteem are the two main problematic effects of escessive use of social media. Excessive use of social media being a form of narcissism creates egocentric people and allow people to express negative narcissistic tendencies. Other issues that excessive use of social media create are unhealthy self-promotional behavior. In Contrast of excessive use of social media being a form of narcissism, Alex Lambert argues against the narcissism hypothesis. Lambert believes that the use of social media is strictly for creating connections. He also states that narcissism is unrelated to the frequency of Facebook use.

Social Networking is the use of websites such as Facebook, MySpace,Twitter,LinkedIn, and classmates.com to communicate with other users (Hampton). On social media like these,users are able to develop biographical profiles as well as communicating,researching, and also sharing photos, links, videos,music, and more. Advocates of social networking sites conclude that online communities promote increased interaction with friends and family and also offer teachers, librarians, and students beneficial access to educational support and materials, facilitate social and political change,and distributing useful information promptly. This impact social networking sites are suggesting leads to my impression that social networking sites are good for

The use of SNSs (social network sites) can have both positive and negative effects on the individual; however, few studies identify the types of people who frequent these Internet sites

Many suggest that social networking sites help “maintain existing offline relationships” (Ellison 221) with others. Many old connections are kept through social sites and offers people the opportunity to become close with them once again. However, social networking decreases the sentimental connection between family members as people are communicating through messaging networks instead of reuniting with them offline. Despite, social networking being easier to communicate with others, it affects a person’s offline skills.