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Discuss the impact of the internet on communication
The impact of the internet on communication
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The issue of the Internet having psychological benefits has two sides, as does any issue. James E. Katz and Philip Aspden present the yes side of this issue. Katz and Aspden used a national random telephone survey to back up their side on the issue. The survey conducted in October of 1995 compiled the individuals who took the survey into five specific groups. The groups consisted of those not aware of the Internet, non-users aware of the Internet, former users, recent users-those who started using the Internet in 1995, and longtime users-those who started using the Internet prior to 1995. The survey questioned community involvement (community, leisure, and religious,) involvement in existing communities (face to face, family, Internet,) and friendship formation (Internet and beyond.) They drew the conclusion that the Internet is helping to form new friendships and social relationships. Therefore, giving people the chance to join new groups and organizations other than those in their own community.
Robert Kraut et al. presented the no side of this issue. Kraut focused on two major themes, Internet for entertainment, information and commerce, similar to the television, meaning it could reinforce social bonds or reduce social involvement, and interpersonal communication, similar to the telephone rather than the television.
Interpersonal communication is the dominant use of the Internet. Kraut also tied a lot of his arguments to the national survey conducted by Katz and Aspden.
After reading both arguments I found myself agreeing more with the no side of this issue. I agree that the Internet, " is causing people to become socially isolated and cut off from genuine social relationships." This is because many people who use ...
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...o keep in touch with people they could not see or talk to everyday. Kraut can also be accused of taking both sides of the issue. For example, the article says, " ...the Internet is a social technology used for communication with individuals and groups, but it is associated with declines in social involvement and the psychological well-being that goes with social involvement." This means that Kraut is saying the Internet is good because it helps keep people in touch but at the same time is bad because while people are using the Internet for communication they are interfering with their psychological well-being. This to me is a little contradicting and extremely confusing.
Overall, both of these arguments suggest one idea; the more we use the Internet whether it is for communication or enjoyment the less time we are spending in the real world. "More is less."
The internet is used today for many reasons. It is a platform for people to stay in touch with others, entertain themselves and complete work tasks. In the following articles, “Internet Addiction Left my Brother Homeless” by Winston Ross and “The Pointlessness of Unplugging” by Casey N. Cep, the internet is discussed very deeply, but in two varying lights. In the article by Cep the author is writing from personal experiences and research. In the article by Ross the author is writing merely from opinions.
Evidence by Subrahmanyam, Kraut, Greenfield, and Gross (2000) states “In this study, those who were lonely or depressed were not more drawn to the Internet. Rather, the HomeNet results suggest that using the Internet in itself caused the declines in social well-being” (p. 135). The conclusion of the studies provides supporting evidence that the internet will cause depression and loneliness, since depressed individuals were not already drawn to the internet. The isolation that comes with internet usage can too add to the less likelihood of face-to-face interaction. The more one is isolated the less contact of friends and family. Adolescents have to be mindful of their usage of the internet and the effects. Social face-to-face interaction skills are a key skill to have in the ‘real-world’ versus a fix virtual
This is making people dependent on the internet. People are less independent in the way they deal with their emotions, relying entirely upon their desires for physical pleasures instilled by the internet. Through his novel, Feed, M.T. Anderson suggests that if the use of the internet continues to increase, society will become harmfully dependent upon it. People will be reliant on the internet for knowledge and evolve into a lackadaisical, careless society.
2. Previous Research: There is a debate as to whether Internet use has a positive or negative impact in our social lives. One study found that for 40% of the college students in their sample, the Internet had been instrumental in the formation of new friendships. Moreover, 7% of their sample had used the Internet to find a romantic partner. The participants in the study claimed that one of the main benefits of communicating through the Internet was reduced social anxiety and shyness (Knox, 2001). In another study, there was evidence that lonely individuals were more likely to use email and the Internet in order to stay connected with others—in theory, giving them a healthier social life—however, evidence showed that heavy use had a negative social impact (Morahan-Martin, 2003). Finally, another study found that individuals comfortable or regularly involved in social gatherings reported more positive effects from Internet use than shy individuals less involved in their community (Kraut, 2002).
In the first essay, What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow up in Cyberspace by Brent Staples, there were several interesting points made about whether technology helps or harms our everyday lives. Social networking has increased the ability to socialize with people all around the world in a revolutionary way. Being able to access so many social oriented websites, it has helped advance our connections by allowing the elderly who had been isolated before they gained access to the web. However, even though it has increased the potential of communicative opportunity, it has also brought some harmful reality to light. While increasing the connections of the elderly, research shows that it is beginning to isolate the younger generations. The youth of today are losing the
Marche quotes Cacioppo when it said, “does the Internet make people lonely, or are lonely people more attracted to the Internet?” (Marche 19). This is interpreted as lonely people relying on the Internet for satisfaction or if people who use the Internet often start feeling lonely. People use the Internet for many reasons like to watch videos, listen to music, play games or do research. Yes, it may be possible that lonely people have relied on the Internet to get away from the feeling because with the Internet they are able to talk to people, be active by playing games, or watch movies. Some may also say that because a person becomes too attentive to the Internet they may isolate themselves from everyone else, which may be true since technology is powerful. However, a person needs to have a control over their usage of the
John Parry Barlow’s essay poses an interesting question. Is communication via the Internet as socially beneficial as face to face interactions? The quick and easy answer to the question is no. The use of the internet and all of its distractions has caused an imbalance of actual social interaction. The informed critique that will be discussed is, “Is There a There in Cyberspace?” by John Perry Barlow. The major theme of this short story is how communities have drastically changed. While social benefits can come from participating in an Internet community, it is not a replacement for a physical community of peers.
However, as time has moved on, research seems to support the proponents of the Internet, and can be explained by two changes in Internet use that have occurred since its manifestation. First off, an increase in the amount of Internet users has allowed for indi...
Regardless of problems, the internet is a must-have in everyday life. It is deeply connected to everything we do, be that our jobs or communication. According to the Pew Research Center 88% of American adults use the internet. The fact that nine-in-ten Americans use the internet regularly shows how reliant we have become on the internet. Though the internet is proven to have merits, I still suggest that we should limit its usage for our health. By setting aside time for socializing rather than online, we can counteract the effects of
The. Kraut, Robert, Michael Patterson, Vicki Lundmark, Sara Kiesler, Tridas Mukophadhyay, and William Scherlis. The "Internet Paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being." American Psychologist. 53.9 (1998): 1017-1031.
Internet as a Means of Connecting to Others." CyberPsychology & Behavior 10.5 (2007): 9. Web. 22 Jan. 2011. .
The internet has influenced, and is still influencing the way society communicates in many different ways. The rise of the internet has caused people to communicate differently in areas never dreamed of before the internet came into existence. Education has been revolutionized through the world of the “Information Super Highway”. Medicine has also seen reform as the internet improves research and communication. Individuals are starting businesses from scratch, while others are selling household items for extra cash. This internet “typhoon” sweeping the globe has become a way of life for many individuals all across the globe.
The internet has revolutionized all forms of communication since the beginning of its existence. The world has now become smaller' or more like a global village', so to speak. The internet was first used by the U.S military for communications purposes. The internet, from the communication point of view, has brought on new developments and techniques to keep in touch not only for individuals, but for businesses as well. An example of how the internet has impacted communication would be an example of doctors now communicating through live video feeds via the internet with patients or other doctors to diagnose patients or to even guide and advise surgeons through complicated procedures.
When thinking about specific ways that the internet has changed the world, the first thing that comes to mind is the way we receive information. Nowadays everything that you need to know is right there at your fingertips. Whether we need answers to history questions or a recipe for dinner tonight, the internet gives it to us. I see this as both a good and a bad thing for our society. I think that it’s good that we always have the necessary information in our hands in case there is a time that we do need some sort of information instantly. We will be able to get that instant information because the internet is right in front of us. However, I think that the more we make the internet available to younger kids, the more those kids will rely on the internet for all of their needs. This is a serious problem because we can’t be sure that the internet will always be there for us to use. What will happen when the internet goes out and nobody can figure out how to fix it? The people that are too reliable on the internet will have problems functioning in real life. That is why the use of internet for kids needs to be monitored for assurance that they can survive without it.
The internet could be able to bring us farther apart then to bring us closer together. It does have that it has the ability to bring people together, but looking at it on a larger scale, the internet is going to make a larger division of online and offline communities. Spender states, Despite the ideal potential of the new technologies to create a global, egalitarian community, a virtual world without barriers or divisions; the scene down on the ground is strikingly different. This sounds great, to have this ideal global community where everyone can have their say. Yet in the real world, people socioeconomic status is going to affect whether or not they are going to be connected w...