Growing solitary and diminishing social interaction hidden behind Internet(Social Interaction: Enhanced or reduced by technology?)

Does Internet Enhance or Reduce Social Interaction

Abstract

s like HomeNet publications have been following the effects positive or negative of Internet on its users . The findings are interesting as it reports both positive and negative results . Initially the effect was negative on those who relied heavily on internet for communication . However that scenario has changed with time . Current studies no longer show the overall negative effects of the past . Using internet to communicate with families and friends as well as being involved in community activities has been on the rise

. Negative effects are generally experienced by people with less support economically and introverts and positive effects experienced by people with good social resources and extraverts . Some people who have integrated internet into their ordinary lives have generally benefited , but they now experience new social problems . These problems are highlighted in this discussion in depth and a summary made in a table

Those internet users who find communication important , have good reason

to expect that Internet has positive social impact on their lives . For such people communication , including contact with neighbors , friends and family , and participation in social groups , improves their level of social support . To them interacting with internet gives them fulfilling personal relationships , a sense of meaning in life , and commitment to social norms with their communities . Their psychological and physical well-being (Diener et al . 1999 Cohen and Wills 1985 Mirowsky and Ross 1989 . They think through the use of internet for communication , they could have important positive social effects on individuals (McKenna and Bargh 2000 , groups , organizations (Sproull and Kiesler 1991 , and communities (Hampton and Wellman 2000 , including society at large (Dertouzos 1997 Hilts . Just like the telephone did , they think broad social access could increase people 's social involvement , and facilitate formation of new relationships (Fischer 1992 Wellman 1996 . People who are generally isolated could find new social identity and commitment (Katz and Aspden 1997 . Isolated members of communities could participate in group organizations at a distance (Sproull and Kiesler 1991 . Internet is also handy for political mobilization (Bonchek 1997

Whether Internet has positive or negative social impact depend upon the quality of the people online , their activities and what they give up to spend time online . Stronger social ties generally lead to better social outcomes than do weaker ties (Wellman and Wortley 1990

As we go through the discussion we find that the ease in communication that internet offers has encouraged people so much that they now spend more time alone , talking online with strangers and very little time with their communities

Increasingly people are connecting to each other through the internet and looked at positively , one would say internet has increased the frequency of communication among its users . There are pertinent issues to look at today regarding our social interaction compared with the past

Has our social relation one-to-one improved or diminished

Has it provided more evidence of the difference between our virtual self and real self

Has our group interaction improved or diminished...