Social Networking Sites: Depriving Us of Social Skills???
Communication has existed in various forms
since man appeared on earth (Anonymous, 2011). The most well known means of
communication used by our early ancestors is cave painting. This method depicts
primitive life on the cave walls, and involves creating pigments from colored
minerals, animal blood or juices of fruits and berries. Besides, other means
such as drums, smoke signals, fireworks, although not practical, were also
used. Furthermore, before the invention of the printing press, storytelling and
handwritten documentaries are their way of passing down details of historical
events to the next generation. And as human continue to improve in the Age of
Information, other mediums of communication have also evolved. For instance, some
of which that we are familiar with include telegraphs, telephones, radios,
televisions, photographs, cell phones, internet, and last but not the least,
the social networking sites.
Living in a highly technological era,
effective communication is essential for a variety of reasons. It serves to
inform, motivate, establish authority and control, and allows for emotive
expression (Anonymous, 2011). For the same reason, social networking sites,
which are the fruit of the evolution from before up until now, are seen as
advantageous, convenient, and multifunctional. Social networking sites connect people from around the world. It provides
not only the ground for staying in touch with distant friends and relatives,
but also the platform for meeting new friends, and sharing of common interest.
For more than a decade, it has served us well. Instead of needing to write
letters to maintain contact, we can simply click on the names onscreen, and
start chatting with friends, acquaintances, or even unknown strangers. Everything
is just a click away! Indeed, social networking sites have proved to be a great
tool for facilitating communication and interaction between people of same and
different ages. However, while the impact of these social networks continue to
expand geographically and exponentially, scientific breakthroughs have managed
to take a quantum leap and draw the attention of the new generation towards the
negative effects that social networking sites have brought upon our lives.
Although social networking sites, with all its features and applications, are
regarded as a great tool for easy communication, instant update, game playing
and fun learning, it seems to be that it is also the reason why youths nowadays
are lacking necessary interpersonal social skills to face the challenge of real
life face to face interaction.
According to ScienceDaily(June 21, 2008), researchers at the
University of Minnesota have discovered the educational benefits of social
networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. For instance, the study found
out that students using social networking sites are actually practicing the
kinds of 21st century skills they need to develop to be successful like
creativity, technological skills, being open to diverse views, and
communication skill. Moreover, Christine Greenhow, the principal investigator
of the study, suggested that these websites offer tremendous educational
potential, since students are seen to develop a positive attitude toward using
technology systems, customizing content and thinking about online design(2008).
On the other hand, an eminent scientist has warned that social netwroking sites
are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users. Specifically, Susan
Greenfield, a neuroscientist, has claimed that sites such as Facebook, Twitter
and Bebo can shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make
young people more self-centered. “My fear is that these technologies are
infantilising the brain into the state of small children who are attracted by
buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and who live
for the moment.” She said in her statement (2009). Furthermore, Baroness
Greenfield, another neuroscientist also took the same stand, as she believes
repeated exposure to these sites could effectively rewire the brain. In
addition, some of the related studies also attempted to analyze the possibility
of facebook related academic procrastination. One of which is the recent study
carried out at Czech university, whose finding revealed that most people are
actually unaware of how much time they really spend on Facebook and how these
can affect their academic performances.
Therefore, social networking sites, despite their educational potential,
somehow contribute to the decline in the over all performance of students in
school as they spend more time in front of the computer screen than
studying. Social networking sites may be
doing more harm than good.
People often spend much of their time in front
of the computer chatting with friends, and reading updates. For them, that’s
the way to stay connected and possibly, even more connected, since one would be
able to know what’s going on in the lives of other people by browsing through
their walls and looking at their posts and recent activities. Indeed, the
several new features and applications of social networking sites have allowed
this to happen. However, as these networks successfully tore down the
geographical barrier that has once existed among people of different nation,
research evidences have pointed out another barrier that coexists with the
frequent use of social networking sites. It happens that there’s a certain
correlation between self-esteem and a sense of social inadequacy and social
network addiction. It appears to be that frequent users of social networking
sites are more prone to depression and other anxiety disorders. In other words,
in spite of the online connections they have made with other people, they still
feel lonely and isolated, which is ironical. For instance, a Mexican study
found out that Facebook users spending over four hours everyday on Facebook had
a higher incidence of depression and lower physical and general self-esteem
levels than less frequent Facebook users. A teacher also shared that she had
noticed a sharp decline in the ability of her pupils to understand others,
which is the result of online social networking. I'm not against technology and
computers. But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make
real relationships with people. (Palmer, 2009)
For the many users of the
social networking sites, they see the benefits and opportunities that these
sites offer to them. With the help of the presence of various social networking
sites, they can access information easily and connect with different kinds of
people internationally. In a way, they can also use it as a bridge to form
relationships that may last for a life time. In brief, social networking sites
link people to people. At the same time, it also promotes exchanging of ideas
among people of different and same profession in attempt to find a better
solution to a problem. In fact, social networking sites could be the road
towards globalization and development of a country as a whole when we try to
look at it in a macro perspective concerning not only an individual, but the
whole world which has been dominated by information technology. On the other
hand, when we try to look at things microscopically, that is to say, look into
the effects of these social networking sites on every individual, we can see
that these networking sites have successfully replaced quality interpersonal
communication in real life that involves the use of verbal and non verbal cues.
Most of the time, instead of actively participating in the events of other
people’s life, we just pretend to be a part by being constantly updated. Social
gatherings and get together also reduced in frequency for people are distracted
with their online life. A study by the Broadcaster Audience Research Board
found teenagers now spend seven-and-a-half hours a day in front of a screen.Most
importantly, these sites deprived us of our ability to feel, touch, smell and
hear, since most of the time we are facing a screen which is lifeless and
expressionless. And as one can see, this strongly contrasts with how the past
generations used to communicate and interact. In the past, they use means that
involve the use of their senses. One good example is the use of drums and
fireworks as the medium of communication. Even though not practical, they train
people to be more sensitive and active in their real surrounding. Conversely,
nowadays, everything is simplified. All we have to do is to face the computer
screen and everything will be displayed. Even communication and interaction
requires no spoken language, one just need to type his/her message on the chat
box and it will automatically be sent to the other side. All animal species
have perfected a system of communication, but humans are the only ones capable
of spoken language (Anonymous, n.d.).Nevertheless, it is sad to see to see that
these social networking sites have prevented us to speak often, as it is
replaced more with typing. In the long run, this may even cause our senses to
become dull and incapable of perceiving stimuli coming from the surrounding.
All in all, social networking sites have
brought about a lot of negative effects, as much as its positive influences.
Using of social networking sites deters people from concentrating on their
work, and leave them with short attention span. Furthermore, it also paves the way
for health problems such as depression and other psychological disorders. Most
importantly, it reduced the quality and quantity of face time. Instead of being
socially connected through face to face communication and interaction, people
tend to focus more on the virtual online world of connections, which are
detrimental to developing their interpersonal skills that require keen senses
and the use of non verbal cues. As a result, youths nowadays, lack essential
social skills and weren’t able to communicate effectively. It becomes more and
more difficult for them to express thoughts face to face for they were so used
to interacting with the screen that strays them from reality.
SOURCES:
Anonymous(n.d.). History of Communication From
Cave Drawings To The Web.
Derbyshire, D. (2009, February
24). Social websites harm children's brains: Chilling warning to parents from
top neuroscientist. Retrieved from
Communication has existed in various forms
since man appeared on earth (Anonymous, 2011). The most well known means of
communication used by our early ancestors is cave painting. This method depicts
primitive life on the cave walls, and involves creating pigments from colored
minerals, animal blood or juices of fruits and berries. Besides, other means
such as drums, smoke signals, fireworks, although not practical, were also
used. Furthermore, before the invention of the printing press, storytelling and
handwritten documentaries are their way of passing down details of historical
events to the next generation. And as human continue to improve in the Age of
Information, other mediums of communication have also evolved. For instance, some
of which that we are familiar with include telegraphs, telephones, radios,
televisions, photographs, cell phones, internet, and last but not the least,
the social networking sites.
All in all, social networking sites have
brought about a lot of negative effects, as much as its positive influences.
Using of social networking sites deters people from concentrating on their
work, and leave them with short attention span. Furthermore, it also paves the way
for health problems such as depression and other psychological disorders. Most
importantly, it reduced the quality and quantity of face time. Instead of being
socially connected through face to face communication and interaction, people
tend to focus more on the virtual online world of connections, which are
detrimental to developing their interpersonal skills that require keen senses
and the use of non verbal cues. As a result, youths nowadays, lack essential
social skills and weren’t able to communicate effectively. It becomes more and
more difficult for them to express thoughts face to face for they were so used
to interacting with the screen that strays them from reality.
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