Danielle Moore Technology is definitely a twenty first century way of staying connected. However, smartphones are considerably getting in the way of socializing and interaction face to face between people. This “real socializing” is taking a major hit in world today not only with teens and young adults but even with older adults too. Although the older generation is not nearly as affected, the consequences still seem to be relevant. People are now too distracted by their phones to even make simple conversation. People are constantly checking their phones and going on social media or texting to even look up and experience the world around them. I myself even experience this problem and even contribute to the problem. No one seems to be safe in this technology filled world. Most people cannot even keep conversation face to face and would rather just shoot someone a text. People are even limited in that they won’t even call and talk on the phone and just keep to the text where voices cannot even be heard because now its “awkward”. To be honest, it’s almost sickening that people cannot even socialize anymore. The rule at my house use to be no cellphones at the table and now my parents are on their phones more than I am at dinner. My friends and I have this rule that when we go out to eat everyone has to turn their phones face down and not check it the whole time at dinner and the person who checks their phone has to pay for everyone’s meals. Truthfully, it’s a consequence nobody wants to endure so it ends up working but it’s sad that there needs to be a consequence for people to actually talk to each other. However, I don’t see that smartphones and technology are making us more “alone.” I think that the smartphones and social media constantly keep us all connected and together. The connection may not be face to face but at least there is always someone on the other end of the internet or text or whatever that makes people not alone. With all the social media and it being right at our fingertips, people are never alone. There’s even dating sites now for people who live in rural America where their neighbor is ten miles away just so those country folk can stay connected. I think the advancement of technology is double sided in that there are obvious pros and cons. All in all, technology is killing the real, face to face socializing but positively keeping people connected at all times.
In a sense, technology is in the way of real socializing. Since smartphones have become so prevalent in society, we often find ourselves in situations where we could be socializing with people; however we absorb ourselves with our phones and shelter ourselves from making these social connections. For instance, say somebody is walking down a hallway, and there is only one other person in the hallway. These people are walking towards each other, and so they will eventually pass one another. If smartphones were not in the picture, these people would probably smile at each other, maybe even wave or say “hello”. Since smart phones have taken over, this is not usually the case, as these people would probably just glue their faces to their phones and ignore eye contact or acknowledgment of any sort. If one were to go to a restaurant and observe everybody else at that particular restaurant, the majority of the people will probably look at their phones regularly. People used to be able to sit down and talk to their acquaintances/friends/family and solely focus on that conversation. Now, we are distracted by our smart phones. On the other hand, the technology of smart phones can also enhance socialization aspects. Say for example a person goes to a crowded event such as a football game. Technology makes it possible for this person to call/text a friend and meet up with that friend, and thus they have somebody to watch the game with, rather than sitting alone. Before cell phones, finding somebody at a crowded event such as this one would be near impossible. Smart phones and technology also help us to stay up to date with people. Social media sites such as Facebook make it possible to know what is going on in a friend or relative’s life, even if they live miles and miles away. On the other hand, this probably reduces some aspects of socialization, because if one already knows what is going on in somebody’s life, they might not have a need to call them or meet up with them. Therefore, in certain ways, technology and smart phones are improving our socialization, but in other ways, they are taking away from our social lives.
Yes, I believe smartphones are getting in the way of real socializing by implementing a false impression that people are connected when they are really not. An individual can open Facebook, twitter, or Snapchat and see exactly what one is doing with their time yet, never actually communicating with that individual. I believe that the use of all the social media we have today is taking away from the time we can be making real personal connections with one another. Without social media individuals are much more likely to contact friends and family to hang out and connect on a more personal level. I also believe the advancements in today’s technology has made our culture extremely lazy by giving them a pointless activity to pass their time when bored instead of going out and being active with friends.
Danielle Moore
ReplyDeleteTechnology is definitely a twenty first century way of staying connected. However, smartphones are considerably getting in the way of socializing and interaction face to face between people. This “real socializing” is taking a major hit in world today not only with teens and young adults but even with older adults too. Although the older generation is not nearly as affected, the consequences still seem to be relevant. People are now too distracted by their phones to even make simple conversation. People are constantly checking their phones and going on social media or texting to even look up and experience the world around them. I myself even experience this problem and even contribute to the problem. No one seems to be safe in this technology filled world. Most people cannot even keep conversation face to face and would rather just shoot someone a text. People are even limited in that they won’t even call and talk on the phone and just keep to the text where voices cannot even be heard because now its “awkward”. To be honest, it’s almost sickening that people cannot even socialize anymore. The rule at my house use to be no cellphones at the table and now my parents are on their phones more than I am at dinner. My friends and I have this rule that when we go out to eat everyone has to turn their phones face down and not check it the whole time at dinner and the person who checks their phone has to pay for everyone’s meals. Truthfully, it’s a consequence nobody wants to endure so it ends up working but it’s sad that there needs to be a consequence for people to actually talk to each other. However, I don’t see that smartphones and technology are making us more “alone.” I think that the smartphones and social media constantly keep us all connected and together. The connection may not be face to face but at least there is always someone on the other end of the internet or text or whatever that makes people not alone. With all the social media and it being right at our fingertips, people are never alone. There’s even dating sites now for people who live in rural America where their neighbor is ten miles away just so those country folk can stay connected. I think the advancement of technology is double sided in that there are obvious pros and cons. All in all, technology is killing the real, face to face socializing but positively keeping people connected at all times.
In a sense, technology is in the way of real socializing. Since smartphones have become so prevalent in society, we often find ourselves in situations where we could be socializing with people; however we absorb ourselves with our phones and shelter ourselves from making these social connections. For instance, say somebody is walking down a hallway, and there is only one other person in the hallway. These people are walking towards each other, and so they will eventually pass one another. If smartphones were not in the picture, these people would probably smile at each other, maybe even wave or say “hello”. Since smart phones have taken over, this is not usually the case, as these people would probably just glue their faces to their phones and ignore eye contact or acknowledgment of any sort. If one were to go to a restaurant and observe everybody else at that particular restaurant, the majority of the people will probably look at their phones regularly. People used to be able to sit down and talk to their acquaintances/friends/family and solely focus on that conversation. Now, we are distracted by our smart phones. On the other hand, the technology of smart phones can also enhance socialization aspects. Say for example a person goes to a crowded event such as a football game. Technology makes it possible for this person to call/text a friend and meet up with that friend, and thus they have somebody to watch the game with, rather than sitting alone. Before cell phones, finding somebody at a crowded event such as this one would be near impossible. Smart phones and technology also help us to stay up to date with people. Social media sites such as Facebook make it possible to know what is going on in a friend or relative’s life, even if they live miles and miles away. On the other hand, this probably reduces some aspects of socialization, because if one already knows what is going on in somebody’s life, they might not have a need to call them or meet up with them. Therefore, in certain ways, technology and smart phones are improving our socialization, but in other ways, they are taking away from our social lives.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe smartphones are getting in the way of real socializing by implementing a false impression that people are connected when they are really not. An individual can open Facebook, twitter, or Snapchat and see exactly what one is doing with their time yet, never actually communicating with that individual. I believe that the use of all the social media we have today is taking away from the time we can be making real personal connections with one another. Without social media individuals are much more likely to contact friends and family to hang out and connect on a more personal level. I also believe the advancements in today’s technology has made our culture extremely lazy by giving them a pointless activity to pass their time when bored instead of going out and being active with friends.
ReplyDelete