Social Media & Its Effects On Human Interaction

Beezil

So... I've been thinking about how much social media (twitter, FB) has changed the way people communicate. Is it only a matter of time before people completely eliminate personal or physical interactions in favor of online or digital ones? Is is a good or bad road for society to walk down? Does the lack of closeness involved in texting or posting messages online have a desensitizing effect on humans when it comes to emotional give and take? I would love to read some different opinions on this.

It seems to me, the more we interact online instead of in person or even over the phone, hearing each others voices, the less sensitive we are to others' feelings. It is mind-numbing, most of the time, to be on a computer for prolonged periods of time, or to be staring at any glowing screen, really. But is it actually deteriorating our intellects? Making us dumber? Or, is it removing emotion in a way that lets us communicate on a higher, more evolved level of mental exchange? Does the removal of emotion necessarily mean more intelligent conversation can be had, or is the role of emotion in intelligent conversation mostly irrelevant?

What are the benefits of less personal interaction and what are the negatives? Thoughts?

PghPensFan69

Beezil

No alcohol here.... lol

I just figured with all the repetitive posts here involving similar themes, it might be nice to discuss something with a little more substance. My bad.

karl39x

No alcohol here.... lol

I just figured with all the repetitive posts here involving similar themes, it might be nice to discuss something with a little more substance. My bad.

These types of emotional discussions are probably best had face to face, instead of posting this on here. You're mostly going to get weird comments or gifs.

Beezil

These types of emotional discussions are probably best had face to face, instead of posting this on here. You're mostly going to get weird comments or gifs.

I expect a good bit of that, but I've seen some (seemingly) intelligent people on MFP and some interesting threads, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm bored on a Friday night... ;(

karl39x

These types of emotional discussions are probably best had face to face, instead of posting this on here. You're mostly going to get weird comments or gifs.

I expect a good bit of that, but I've seen some (seemingly) intelligent people on MFP and some interesting threads, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm bored on a Friday night... ;(

If you're bored here's a random question to ponder; Does the individual who is placing a label on you influence how much of an impact it has on your self concept?

Beezil

If you're bored here's a random question to ponder; Does the individual who is placing a label on you influence how much of an impact it has on your self concept?

Labels don't typically influence me at all, but I guess it depends on who the individual is. If it's someone I hold in high respect, then it could definitely have an impact - but it most likely wouldn't be a lasting one.

karl39x

If you're bored here's a random question to ponder; Does the individual who is placing a label on you influence how much of an impact it has on your self concept?

Labels don't typically influence me at all, but I guess it depends on who the individual is. If it's someone I hold in high respect, then it could definitely have an impact - but it most likely wouldn't be a lasting one.

Very interesting. I like your thinking.

Derp_Diggler

In for later.

ArchangelMJ

I've always been quite shy and introverted, and I actually find that communicating online allows me to express myself far more articulately and comprehensively than in person. I'm horrible at small talk and I'm not very adept at formulating arguments on the fly, things go more smoothly when I have time to think about and process what I want to say in the most effective manner. I'm a better writer than a talker, and I think a variety of emotions can be very successfully communicated in the written word.

For someone like me, communicating virtually is helpful and effective, but it's obviously not going to be appropriate for every situation. As it stands, I express myself far more on the web through text than through in-person conversation...and I don't have a problem with that.

SunofaBeach14

I feel like I need to go interact with my pool and a good beer . . . *pushes away*

BinaryPulsar

I just want to say that the removal of emotion does not lead to more intelligent conversation. Balanced emotional cues and insight are aspects of intelligent discussion, exchange, and understanding. If you want to read more about that I reccomend books by Antonio Damasio.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

littlelaura

some pros of social media -

new friends instantly at your fingertips 24/7, can be fun, ability to meet amazing people off line, maybe even your true love.

some cons of social media -

possible inability to manage time when using it, possible to lose real life connections with family and friends because of first issue.

- balance is the key to life so depends on how you use it like anything else in life.

neandermagnon

I don't think social media will replace face to face human interaction. There may be some exceptions, e.g. people suffering from clinical depression, but in that situation, social media isn't the cause and the person needs treatment. If anything, the internet will probably make it easier for such a person to get treatment.

I also don't think that the cause of people being insensitive on the internet is because they've lost the ability to interact... it's because they're looking at words typed on a screen, not a human face with facial expressions and they're not hearing a human voice with tone of voice. The result is they are more direct and speak their mind rather than modifying what they're saying for the person listening. This happens regardless of whether the person's new to internet conversation or has been at it for years. The main difference in people who are seasoned in interacting via the internet is that they take comments with a pinch of salt and don't get butthurt over people being direct with them and they're less likely to read tones of voice into the words they read that come from the reader's mind, not the writer's.

I think over time someone's going to come up with a better way to communicate emotion via the internet, so light-hearted jokey comments don't get percieved as snarky and mean, they get perceived as light hearted and jokey. And straight forward advice doesn't get taken as an attack, it gets taken as an attempt to provide helpful advice. And disagreeing with someone gets perceived the same way as intellectual debate between two professors, not as one Homo erectus beating his chest and telling another Homo erectus "I'm better than you!" (although some might argue that all human arguments are essentially that, but with a bit more sophisticated language)

salembambi

Pros:
keep in contact with people you might not otherwise
helps people express themselves a little more freely if they can't do it in person
find new friends that can lead to in person friends too obviously
stay up to date on new possible events you can go to
share information really easily
selfies
creeping people you went to high school withs profiles

Cons:
sarcasm can be hard to spot
people can be meaner sure
when someone is obsessed with it and choose it over social interaction every time
farm ville

I do not think social media will ever replace in person interaction ... I think humans need interaction , touch, love all that kind of stuff and you cannot get that from a screen

Sovi_

Please form a research question, also I will need the first chapter of this thesis draft in two weeks. Please remember you need 10 to 15 sources all peer-reviewed. Will this be a controlled experiment ? If so, you will need to complete the IRB protocol paperwork.

BrainyBurro

So... I've been thinking about how much social media (twitter, FB) has changed the way people communicate. Is it only a matter of time before people completely eliminate personal or physical interactions in favor of online or digital ones? Is is a good or bad road for society to walk down? Does the lack of closeness involved in texting or posting messages online have a desensitizing effect on humans when it comes to emotional give and take? I would love to read some different opinions on this.

It seems to me, the more we interact online instead of in person or even over the phone, hearing each others voices, the less sensitive we are to others' feelings. It is mind-numbing, most of the time, to be on a computer for prolonged periods of time, or to be staring at any glowing screen, really. But is it actually deteriorating our intellects? Making us dumber? Or, is it removing emotion in a way that lets us communicate on a higher, more evolved level of mental exchange? Does the removal of emotion necessarily mean more intelligent conversation can be had, or is the role of emotion in intelligent conversation mostly irrelevant?

What are the benefits of less personal interaction and what are the negatives? Thoughts?

MrsPaulSmith

Without inflection and body language I often come across as very mean. I don't think many people are less sensitive towards others feelings when online. I believe without the other cues you would get in normal face to face conversation; what is said on a blank screen can seem somewhat heartless. That being said, there are a ton more pervy guys on here than I find in real life, so maybe not having to stare rejection in the face gives some people the courage to say what they would otherwise keep to themselves.

Beezil

I've always been quite shy and introverted, and I actually find that communicating online allows me to express myself far more articulately and comprehensively than in person. I'm horrible at small talk and I'm not very adept at formulating arguments on the fly, things go more smoothly when I have time to think about and process what I want to say in the most effective manner. I'm a better writer than a talker, and I think a variety of emotions can be very successfully communicated in the written word.

For someone like me, communicating virtually is helpful and effective, but it's obviously not going to be appropriate for every situation. As it stands, I express myself far more on the web through text than through in-person conversation...and I don't have a problem with that.

This is me, to a T, aside from the fact that I'm not 100% okay with it. I feel almost ashamed and embarrassed (for lack of better terms) of my lack in skill when it comes to conversation. It's frustrating a lot of the time, so I often remain quiet around people, despite the fact I may want to interject or participate in an interesting conversation.

Lilly_the_Hillbilly

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