Personal Interaction Takes a Back Seat to Technology

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Personal Interaction Takes a Back Seat to Technology
Human nature dictates a primal need for personal interaction. Just as animals form packs and herds as a natural instinct for survival, people require a personal connection in order to thrive socially, emotionally and intimately. However, advancement in technology, especially over the last ten years, has created a significant adverse effect on how we communicate with one another. Social media, email, text messaging, instant messaging and videoconferencing have become increasingly popular venues of communication particularly among young adults. As a result, this generation's interpersonal skills are rapidly diminishing with the influx of gadgets. Although some believe the benefits of technology outweigh the drawbacks, there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. As Susan Tardanico states, "With all the powerful social technologies at our fingertips, we are more connected - and potentially more disconnected - than ever before." (Forbes 2012). With this in mind, in-person contact and face-to-face interaction are crucial in fostering healthy personal relationships. Society needs to be reminded of the numerous negative consequences that virtual communication has on their lives.
Technological advances have created many alternatives in the way we communicate with one another. With the introduction of the personal computer, people are communicating through electronic mail (email). Soon after, cellular telephones were invented and exposed us to text messaging. Both email and text messaging give people the control to say what they want, when they want to say it. According to a Pew Institute survey, the number of text messages sent monthly in the United States dramatically rose from 14...

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...ation” (Shute 2008).
Overall, advancements in technology including social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), the internet, text messaging and Skype have a negative impact on how individuals interact with each other. Children experience information overload and become conditioned to be less empathetic. Young adults are hyper-connected to gadgets and choose to be “alone together” in connection with their narcissistic attitudes. (Turkle 2012). As such, people require touch in the form of a hug, kiss or pat on the back. Nurturing each other through face-to face communication is of utmost importance in maintaining healthy relationships. Society must be aware of the increasingly unhealthy effects technology has on their lives. Personal interaction must be our primary method of communication to ensure we do not spend our lives looking down instead of at one another.

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