“Do texting and social media lessen our in-person communication abilities
Many people across the globe own a smartphone that can access the internet today. Also, most of them have access to internet provider networks that allow them to send messages to their friends and relatives anywhere in the world. The use of the internet has permitted people to communicate virtually to one another from the comfort of their seats at home. Social media platforms have been developed where people reach each other with ease despite the distance that exists between them in reality. Different industries have now turned to the use of the internet to reach their customers, thus proving some of the advantages that the internet has today. Many studies have been conducted to understand the different impact that texting and social media has on people. Numerous benefits have been analyzed by many scholars showing how beneficial they are to our lives in this era of the internet. Other scholars have analyzed their negative impacts that have emerged among people of all ages. Therefore, it is essential to understand its effects based on other previous studies.
Research question:
“Do texting and social media lessen our in-person communication abilities?”
SOURCE 1
Joo and Teng (2017) have conducted a study on how social media, specifically Facebook, causes influences in people’s relationships and communication. Their research focused on the behavioral changes observed and the social element. Social media interactions have either been termed as good or bad, depending on different angles of view. Many people have argued about how social networking has impacted on closeness and the superiority of the relationships that are portrayed on these platforms. According to the authors, the differences that are exhibited between the analog modes of communication and the current social media relationships are likely to have many challenges in the future since the digital era keeps evolving. The study analyzed the interpersonal and intrapersonal communications that people have and how social media has changed them.
The study came up with several results based on the online questionnaire they used to collect information. The study indicated that many people are relying on social media platforms to meet their needs for information. Facebook has become a useful tool in enabling people to communicate with their friends and families, thus creating a healthy relationship. People rely on Facebook to obtain news across the globe despite it lacking verification and legality.
SOURCE 2
A study on how social media is being used and the impacts that it has on people’s relationships and emotions by Christensen (2018). The author has noted that many people across the globe are in possession of a smartphone that can access social media platforms. Due to social media use, Christensen sought to comprehend how the users are impacted by the application in terms of their emotions and also the impacts on interpersonal relationships when they are offline. Different methods were used in data collection for the study.
The results of the study indicated that social media had enabled people to connect with others more easily than before. There are negative results that are brought by social media. Social media has been shown to have emotional distress in their users if not regulated; thus, the well-being of the users is declined. People are likely to fall into anxiety, stress, peer pressure, depressions, and anger-management problems as a result of what they experience on these platforms. However, the author notes that social media is relatively new, and further research needs to be conducted to understand its implications on people’s lives in the future.
SOURCE 3
Rahmadini and Halim (2018), have analyzed how social media has impacted concert attendees in Indonesia. Their focus is on the impacts on the emotions of the people, the relationship quality of the brand, and how word of mouth is influenced. In Indonesia, about two-thirds of internet users access social media platforms. These platforms are used by companies in the promotion of their brands to the people. The authors have majored in the study of the music industry, which mainly uses social media for marketing their concerts. The participants of the study had attended a concert the previous year and had access to social media platforms.
Based on the results of the survey, social media use was shown to have positive impacts on the emotions of the user. If the attendees of a concert are exposed to social media for long, they get emotional attachments to the event. The relationship quality of a brand was shown not to be affected by social media interactions. However, emotional attachments have an effect on brand relationship quality, which in turn has positive effects on word of mouth. When people are more aware of a brand, the more they will talk about it in the public since they become emotionally attached.
SOURCE 4
Graham (2013) conducted a research on the impacts that text messaging has on adolescents in terms of their communication skills. The study was conducted on schools’ social workers, where the author involved them to understand their perception of how the adolescents communicate with other people, especially the social worker, age-mates, and other family members. Graham explored the benefits and cons that adolescents experience through texting at an individual capacity.
The study concluded that texting has great impacts on teens. It can be helpful when used appropriately, especially in emergency cases, and helps in enhancing social interactions. When used with wrong intentions, it can be a harmful tool leading to bullying, depression, stress, and other negative impacts. The author suggests that social workers should be made aware of the effects that texting has on adolescents, thus enhance and support their social development. Their role is vital since they are close to adolescents most of the time in schools, and their participation in their development has a future implication.
In conclusion, the above sources have shown different impacts that social media and texting has t society. There are positive and negative impacts that are associated with the platforms, and all depend on how these tools are used. Social interaction continues to evolve with the rise of the internet, and the changes need to be understood to prevent future problems in face-to-face communications since most people are now communicating virtually.