Hello and welcome back to my blog. My inquiry question for this semester is, “How has technology impacted how we view ourselves and others?”, but in order to answer this question, we must first understand the underlying information that comes with this big question. Today, we will focus on “What are the effects of technology on human interaction?”
Technology is deeper than just swipping through images and talking to your friends over the phone. It also shapes the way people behave, grow, evolve and develop within their own lives and in their relationships with others. (1) The alterations in how humans communicate with each other in the modern day, which is mainly through different forms of technology, has both good and bad consequences. The wide availability of different devices means that it is now possible for loved-ones to be in close contact wherever they are on earth and whenever they want. Technology has even transformed certain common behaviors associated with learning about the world and connecting with people around the world. Technology is now used in schools, as communication, as an outlet or learning and much more. (1)
But, not all the consequences are positive, there are also many negative consequences that have come from the excessive use of tehcnology these past few decades. The main impact is the effect it has when humans now have to communicate face-to-face rather than through a screen. As a few examples:
- The ability to make eye contact with others now suffers.This is due to the discomfort experienced when not having your phone which leads to the inability to maintain eye contact. (2) Making eye contact helps both people focus on the conversation and read facial expressions. This can improve understanding. And improving understanding can significantly improve communication between two people. Overall, with eye contact, peole can create better connections and build trust with one another. without it, it can be hard to create those real connections. (3)
- Many people now suffer from anxiety when they do not have their phones around. This is because recieveing notifications and constantly checking our phones to see if anything new came up releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine. (2)
- We become less comfortable having real face-to-face conversations and often avoid them. That’s mostly because when most communciation is virtual, two things happen: You get used to being in a constant state of control where you can delete and edit what you’re going to say, and you lose your ability to be vulnerable. (4)
Those are only a few examples on the negative impact technology has had on creating relationships.
Another aspect I want to focus on is how technology has impacted bullying a lot in a negative manner. (5) Technology has also made cyberbullying possible, and children are now particularly vulnerable to harassment online. While cyberbullying is a worry for children, it is also becoming a common challenge among adults too. (6) The main issues from bullying caused by technology (cyberbullying) is that its very persistent. Since anyone can access social media at any time, it;s hard for people experiencing cyber bullying to catch a break. Another aspect is that it’s permanent. Anything that is put out on the internet can no loner be erased or taken back which is why the sahring of messages or images online can tarnish someone’s reputation for life from both ends of cyberbullying. Last but not least, cyberbullying is hardest to identify since it’s hidden within a screen. That makes it’s hard to teachers, adults and parents to try and put an end to it. (6)
Online decpetion and catfishing is another form of cyberbullying that has been created due to technology and this has greatly affected human interaction. Cyberbullying involves repeated attempts to embarrass, humiliate, or harm someone using online resources. Catfishing is a form of cyberbullying because the target is harmed since catfisher plays games with their mind. (7) This can cause trust issues and thefore impacts human interaction. (7)
In closing, technology is a great tool to use for many different apsects and should not stop being used. Instead, it should only be used in moderation and in positive ways to bring people together rather than tear them apart. Over time it has and wll continue to impact human connection and hopefully in the future, we’ll be able to use it as more of a tool than a threat. In my next blog post, I will discuss how social media imoacts the way we view ourselves since that can also impact human connections. Thanks for reading!
Sources:
1. “What Is Catfishing Online: Signs & How to Tell.” Fortinet, www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/catfishing. Accessed 9 May 2023.
2. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). “What Is Cyberbullying.” StopBullying.Gov, 5 Nov. 2021, www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it.
3. Burgess, Jake. “How Has Technology Affected Social Interaction?” Sogolytics Blog, 3 May 2023, www.sogolytics.com/blog/how-has-technology-affected-social-interaction/#:~:text=The%20same%20ease%20of%20technological,primary%20source%20of%20social%20contact.
4. Karthik Kumar, MBBS. “Can Technology Destroy Relationships? Positive vs. Negative Effects.” MedicineNet, 9 Mar. 2022, www.medicinenet.com/can_technology_destroy_relationships/article.htm.
5. “Eye Contact Is Important (Crucial Really) in Communication.” Eye Contact Is Important (Crucial Really) in Communication, www.betterup.com/blog/why-is-eye-contact-important#:~:text=Making%20eye%20contact%20helps%20both,improve%20communication%20between%20two%20people. Accessed 9 May 2023.
6. Www.recruiter.com. “The Negative Impact That Growing up Digital Has Had on Communication.” Recruiter.Com, www.recruiter.com/recruiting/the-negative-impact-that-growing-up-digital-has-had-on-communication/. Accessed 9 May 2023.
7. Wardynski, DJ. “Different Effects of Technology on Human Interaction.” Different Effects Of Technology On Human Interaction, 7 Nov. 2022, www.brainspire.com/blog/what-are-the-effects-of-technology-on-human-interaction.