The internet has made our physical, face-to-face lives less social
The introduction of the internet in the modern world has made communication and interaction of people more convenient. For instance, a majority of people in different regions interact and communicate through various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, among others. As a result, the internet has affected face-to-face interactions and communication among people in the current society. Therefore, some people argue that the internet has made our physical, face-to-face lives less social, but our online virtual lives more social.
Today, virtual communities have changed and shaped our physical, face-to-face communities in many ways. For instance, in the last two decades, the internet has led to the significant transformation of interpersonal communication. Traditionally, interpersonal communication was primarily achieved through face-to-face interactions. However, the internet has created a new era of virtual communication through mobile phones and various online platforms. According to Hampton et al. (2010), internet access in public areas such as markets, streets, public parks, and plazas has been made possible through the introduction of wireless networks. As a result, people can easily access the internet through their smartphones. The author says that increased access to public internet has reshaped the public realm, including how people interact and communicate in public places.
Regarding this, access to the public network has led to a revolutionary shift from face-to-face interactions to virtual communication. People are increasingly using mobile phone devices to communicate with one another through voice and text messages. This shift allows people from all regions globally to interact more conveniently and share their diverse opinions, values, and cultures, among other things. Also, Hampton & Welman (2003) says that the internet has led to the transformation of the face-to-face community to a new virtual community. According to the author, virtual communities have expanded the level of online connectivity, thus leading to an increased level of engagement and interaction across the globe. As a result, this has helped to free communities from the constraints of geographic proximity, and issues of race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.
Virtual communities are an adequate replacement of face-face communities in several ways. For instance, the virtual community is regarded as the backbone of the global village. Castells (2012) says that virtual communities have led to the development of a global network society. Regarding this, virtual communities have made global trade and e-commerce possible due to the increased global engagement through the internet. As a result, people can efficiently conduct trade and other business transactions virtually without face-to-face engagement. The author also states that the internet has transformed face-to-face interactions in the areas of education, governance, and marketing, among others. For instance, students can learn through e-learning and m-learning platforms. Also, virtual communities have led to the introduction of e-government that allows citizen participation and offering of different government services to the citizens.
Moreover, most companies are shifting to online marketing to advertise their products and services, since digital marketing allows marketers to reach a broader market due to the increased use of the internet globally. As a result, virtual communities act as adequate replacement of face-face communities in all these different areas. Also, Virtual communities have adequately replaced face-to-face communities with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). AI includes computerized machines that have been programmed to act and perform like humans. Currently, there are sociable robots that can recognize people, interact, and communicate with them. Most of these robots are available in the areas of care and companionship.
Similarly, robots are also available in the areas of education and healthcare. A report by the New York Times in 2010 indicated that there are robotic therapists, teachers, and companions (Turkle, 2011). The robots engage in teaching, providing healthcare services, and providing companionship to people, among other functions. Over time, AI is expected to replace humans in almost all aspects of the work environment as the machines are believed to perform better than humans.
However, virtual communities face various challenges and limitations, making it challenging to replace face-to-face communities adequately. For instance, online friendship and online dating is not possible for most people. Regarding this, the majority of people prefer face-to-face interactions in the process of making new friends. Lack of trust is the main reason why most people find it difficult to engage in online friendships or dating (Tufekci, 2010). Also, online friendship and dating are affected by difficulties and inability to experience intimacy, communicate emotions, and share experiences with the other partner to strengthen such intimacy. Managing impressions in online dating is also a challenge due to self-presentation techniques whereby people fake reality (Ellison et al., 2006). Therefore, it is quite difficult for online friendship and dating to adequately replace face-face interactions in making of new of new friends and finding the right partner. As a result, face-face interaction remains an essential way of making friends and love partners.
Additionally, social media platforms are built or constructed around weak ties (Granovetter, 1973). For instance, one may have a large number of followers on social media, but the support or social tie can be weak. Therefore, in social activism, face-to-face interaction between the leaders and supporters is essential in organizing social rights movements and events. Regarding this, organization and mobilization of demonstrations by civil movements are mainly conducted through a combination of both social media networks and face-to-face interactions with the supporters to form strong ties. As a result, virtual communities cannot wholly replace face-to-face communities in such situations.
Conclusion
Based on the discussion, it is clear that virtual communities have significantly impacted and changed face-to-face communities in several ways. For instance, it has impacted the transformation of interpersonal communication, as most communication today is conducted through social media. The shift has facilitated easy interaction and communication among people across all regions globally. They have also contributed to online friendship and online dating, with the emergence of multiple social networking platforms. Moreover, virtual communities are an adequate replacement for face-to-face communities in several ways, including global interaction and communication, as well as AI robotic machines that operate and function like humans. For instance, sociable robots are replacing human labor in the areas of education, health care, and caregiving. However, a complete shift from face-to-face communities to virtual communities is faced with some challenges or limitations. For instance, online friendships and online dating are not possible for some people due to issues of trust, lack of intimacy, and self-presentation problems. Also, sociable robots cannot take better care of the aged, children, and sick people because humans need to experience intimacy, love, and care. However, robots do not have feelings and emotions. Again, social ties build on social media are weak; hence, face-to-face interactions are essential to forming strong ties.