Many studies have been conducted on the various features of cyberspace, its connection to social media, and how it influences professional, intimate, and cordial relationships. Although many spectators are convinced that society’s frequent use of cyberspace has taken a turn down the wrong path, cyberspace has opened up many opportunities for professional relationships to establish, such as the relationship between Facebook usage and an increase in work values in Taiwan (Lin, Le, Khalil, & Cheng, 2012). However, contradictory results suggest that heavy use of the internet by people may be a factor of producing negative social well-being (Merkle & Richardson, 2000). In order to fully understand how social cyberspace affects everyday relationships, all forms of interactions must be examined. This research presented will examine the positive and negative effects of cyberspace connections and whether they should be utilized and in what manner.
Primary Issues
Cyberspace
Cyberspace is a time-dependent set of interconnected information systems and the human users that interact with these systems (Ottis & Lorents, 2010). In recent years, the term “cyberspace” has been used to explain things that pertain to any type of network system and anything to do with the use of computer technology. However, given the frequent use of cyberspace and its different qualities that people use daily, human relationships are affected by the information systems.
The everyday use of cyberspace has changed the way in which social identity, social interaction, and relationship formation is formed differently online than in real life (McKenna & Bargh, 2000). Cyberspace has affected the way in which people go about forming relationships with others and has made ...
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...hology Review, 4(1), 57-75.
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Appealing to her audience through qualified sources and research, Rosen does an excellent job illuminating the shadows of social networking, showing how social networking websites will not only change the way people interact with one another, but that continued overuse of these sites may be hazardous to meaningful social interactions. The perils of social media is best exemplified in Rosen’s commentary on “virtual friendships” and the progressively narcissistic personality being encourage by networking sites.
Getting to know you: Face-to-face versus online interactions was a longitudinal study conducted by Okdie, et. al in the year 2011. Results of the study rendered that computer-mediated communication reduces unity among or between the communicators. A huge number of interactions in this form involved animosity due to the convenience of identity-clouding if one opted to. Moreover, the people involved in online interaction are more self-conscious on how they present themselves and are more cautious with their choice of words. A probable reason beneath these ideas is that people tend to present themselves in a positive note on social networking sites as they have the power to control over the information to share, data to post, and messa...
The continued advancement of information and communication technologies has virtualized interpersonal communication process in various ways. Initial definitions of Interpersonal Communication indicated that the interaction/s needs to be face-to-face, but now with technological innovations the concept is getting disputed. In terms of dating (within my age group), prevalent usage of dating websites, and phone apps such as Tinder, OkCupid, and Match are normal and standard. In an article published in The Atlantic it stated, “American adults ages 18 to 24 used online-dating sites and apps at an average rate for all American adults—about 10 percent. Since then, that rate has almost tripled. College-aged and post-college-aged Americans are now the most likely demographic to turn to the technology” (Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic.com). The interactions and behaviors of dating using
From the first email being composed and sent in 1971 to the creation of Facebook in 1994, online communication strategies in higher education has changed tremendously (Bennett, 2013). There are increasing social channels to reach more diverse and widespread populations, and the vast array of internet-based tools continues to grow (Cruz, 2012). Social media has evolved into networks of knowledgeable people, working across time and space to make informed decisions and solve intricate problems (Bingham & Conner, 2010). Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, blogs and forums are all examples of social media tools that provide ways to engage with other people online and form long-term or short-term relationships (Fouts, 2009). According to a study done at Hardin-Simmons University, 92 percent of colleges are using social media in concurrence with their official websites (Greenwood, 2012). In order stay abreast of the shifting demographics of students, employees, alumni and other constituencies, leaders in higher education must readjust marketing strategies and traditional communication approaches through the utilization of social media.
An expert point out that people communicating face-to-face is important; it is about quality not quantity, “people face a lot of self-expression, affiliation, or competition” (Bargh 580). Nie responds to his critics, “We would expect that all those spending more than the average of 10 hours a week on the Internet would report substantially fewer hours socializing with fairly members. Friends and neighbors. It is simply a matter of time” (Bargh 581). This passage suggests that when people spend more time on the internet/technology, their relationships become highly distant. Therefore, if we are no longer have face-to-face communication, we will lose social interaction. This academic journal article, offering in depth and reliable information regarding the new ideas of technologies that is presenting these days. He also uses survey, statistic, historical and events to demonstrate and support his argument. The internet provide you the opportunity to do thing faster and more connection to others, yet the internet also affect your personal privacy. Privacy is important to everyone. He concludes his point and his survey seems to fit with Dave Egger’s novel: “the Internet use led to negative outcomes for the individual user, such as increases in depression and loneliness, and neglect of existing close relationships” (Bargh 580). For instance, Mae transparent affect
The twenty first century is the age of the “Internet” which guarantees people information at the touch of their fingertips. Intelligence of any subject can be acquired- personal or private- in a matter of seconds. This method of public privacy is practiced by numerous social networking websites, which hold personal data of its users. Facebook and Twitter have promised to engulf people with their warmth, keeping them interacted with friends, updated with trends, and connected with society. While several buy into this ruse, they neglect the undesirable effects of networking, which eventually led to depression, presenting a social paradox. The virtual relationships formed online through social networks, are intended to replace physical interaction; people become immensely socialized through a new avenue of communication and remain “connected” with friends or family. This common contact behind masked computer screens eventually becomes insufficient. Yet, people seem to be addicted to social websites resulting in a continuous, daily dependence upon these networking mediums. The more society becomes reliant on social networking, the more people become victims of isolation and depression, as these types of websites merely detach people from physical communication and significant interactions.
During the past two decades or so, there has been very explosive development of the Internet in our everyday lives. The growing use of the Internet has let to a variety social media sites. Facebook has become an essential part of almost everyone’s life, but especially college students. According to the article “Social Networking: Boundaries and Limits” only 10-20%of facebook users are not college aged students (AlDoubi, Anderson, Aragon, & Isaacs, 2014, p. 26). As the use of Facebook has continued to grow by both the number of users and the amount of time each user spends on it, we should be asking one question: Does the use of Facebook help or hurt college students in terms of social and educational opportunities? From a social standpoint, Facebook seems to have a lot to offer. As stated in the article “The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families” Facebook gives people the chance to donate their time and efforts in the community by notifying them of upcoming events” (Clarke-Pearson & O’Keeffe, 2011, p. 2). Within the article “Me and My 400 Friends: The Anatomy of College Students’ Facebook Networks, Their Communication Patterns, and Well-Being” it states that an experiment preformed at the University of California proved that the more often college students were on Facebook, the more they felt supported from loved ones back home. Also, this made them feel as if they were a greater part of their college campus (Manago, Taylor & Greenfield, 2012, p. 370). From the article “Adolescent Peer Relationships and Behavior Problems Predict Young Adults’ Communication on Social Networking Websites” we learn that in another experiment at the University of Virginia they found that children between th...
Over the last century, information technology, such as the Internet, has brought our society forward and helps us get through life more efficiently and conveniently. In addition, it helps making global communication easier and faster as compared to hand-written mails that may take days if not weeks to reach its intended recipient. However, with such luxury and convenience, there is a debate whether the way we currently interact with fellow human beings with the help of technology is good or bad to our personal relationships. The Internet has increased the amount of communication globally, yet ironically the very technology that helps us increase our communication hinders our ability to socialize effectively in real life and create a healthy interpersonal relationship.
This research is unique because it will give light to the individuals who are against social networking that will not take to consideration that it has any positive outcomes at all and to those who believe that social networking has no downfalls and are too blinded by the social networking to even notice the affects it has on their own lives.
This study examines social media among college students and how it affects self-concept and communication with peers. It explains the importance of the effects social media has on personal communication and self-esteem. It emphasizes that social media offer straightforward ways to communicate with peers and get immediate peer feedback, which might influence young adult’s self-esteem. This article connects the idea self to the overarching theme of relationships.
Whitty. M. T (2005), The Realness of Cybercheating: Men’s and Women’s Representations of Unfaithful Internet Relationships. Social Science Computer Review [Online] 23 (1) p. 57-67.
The human need for affiliation creates the challenges and rewards of finding acquaintances, forming close friendships, as well as intimate relationships. Through technological advances cyberspace, or the internet, has become a place of multiple opportunities for people to be able to fulfill that need for affiliation. Websites, chat rooms, and online communities are just some examples of virtual platforms for people to seek others, come together, and find that special someone. These opportunities can result in positive outcomes allowing people to achieve what or whom they were seeking, but they can also result in harm to themselves and others, resulting with damaging consequences. Cyberspace does not come with a warning label. People who use the internet as a means to seek relationships are at risk of being exposed to positive as well as negative results. Being made aware of some of those risks and dangers, and realizing that forming relationships on the internet is not all fun and games, may be ways to help promote a positive future for cyberspace as a place to form successful relationships.
which people communicate. How people form and maintain relationships are evolving in light of Internet-based technologies, most recently with the rise of social networking websites. Furthermore, these sites alter previously held beliefs related to identity formation and maintenance, as users may choose to share as much or as little personal information – whether true or fabricated – as they like with other users. These changes impact relationships in the offline world both positively and negatively. Although today people carry out their day-to-day relationships online, social media have weakened the meaning of friendship and emotional connections. In discussion of whether or not social media affects relationships positively or negatively, a differing viewpoint has been offered by William Deresiewicz in his essay “Faux Friendship” and Clive Thompson in his essay “I’m so digitally close to you”. On one hand Deresiewicz ridicules the use of online social networking in today’s society. On the other hand, Thompson contends and talks about how Facebook has positively changed the world.
Social Media has become a very essential tool in the society; in addition, it has a huge impact on communication and learning process. Social media is defined as websites and applications used for social networking. “As of September 2013, seventy-one percent of online adult use Facebook, eighteen percent use Twitter and seventeen percent use Instagram, twenty-two percent use PInterest, and another twenty-two percent use LinkedIn. (PewReasearch, 2013). In addition, "Between February 2005 and August 2006, the use of social networking sites among young adult internet user ages eighteen and twenty-nine jumped from nine percent to forty-nine percent. The usage of social media had grown drastically.” On social media sites like these, users may develop biographical profiles, communicate with friends and strangers, do research, and share thoughts, photos, music, links, and more” (Socialnetworking.procon,2012). Social media has impacted everyone in several different ways. In this present time, majority of college student use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Social media has a bold impact college student's grades, social interactions, and the teaching and learning process.
“In order to maintain a positive on-going relationship in any difficult face-to-face circumstance, an individual must learn the appropriate socialization rituals. Knowing these rituals and being able to play a proper front stage role is crucial in order for an individual to get along with others (Brignall and Valey, 2005).” With the relatively recent rise of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, the means for maintaining relationships through these platforms rather than speech communication and face-to-face communication are becoming much more apparent and widespread throughout society. However, it is difficult to maintain these relationships without knowing proper social skills especially if these skills are not practiced or introduced to an individual. Although, “Communication frequency and self-disclosure play a role in computer-mediated communication and the formation of online friendships just as they do in face-to-face interactions and offline friendships (Subrahmanyam and Greenfield, 2008).” Yet, in our vast digital world that we reside in today, the ways in which we choose to communicate are becoming hindered by our participation in online communication. “We must have a philosophical understanding of the purpose and importance of communication to individuals and based upon this understanding, shape our attitude and value toward the communication process (McFarlane, 2010).” It is extremely crucial to understand communication’s importance and to not tuck the original beliefs and values regarding the tool underneath the rug, resorting and succumbing to communicating poorly in a fashion that mimics what we have now experienced via our devices. “As with any social change, we also believe there is a need to study and understand the impacts that change might have, regardless of whether such changes are viewed as positive or