Some people argue that Social Media is impersonal. Meanwhile, others believe social media is the best thing that’s happened to human interaction in recent years. Let’s examine both sides of the argument and see whether or not social media is impersonal.
The affirmative
It is easy to interact on social media; therefore this interaction is less meaningful. Because it is so easy to keep in touch, and to send messages and comments to people, meaningful interaction is lost. Before the internet, it took effort to contact someone – you had to call them, arrange to meet them or go to their house. Now, you can just click a button. This ease leads to a loss in value of communication.
People ignore others in real life in favour of scrolling through Facebook, Twitter or some other social site. Many people gather for social situations (parties, dinners, game nights) and instead of talking to the people they’re with, they end up sitting silently scrolling through social media. Real life conversations suffer in favour of online conversation.
Some people use it to replace real life interaction. They avoid meeting up with others and stay on social media almost constantly instead. They then end up socially maladjusted and uncomfortable in social situations when they arise.
Cyberbullying is a big issue with social media. The impersonal nature of the internet means that people believe online cruelty ‘doesn’t count’. Because of the detachment of pressing buttons on a keyboard instead of saying these things out loud, some people feel that mean and derogatory comments are acceptable and that they will be free from reprimand. Cruel things are said that would never be said in person.
Social media is isolating. You see others having fun when they post statuses and pictures and you believe they have perfect lives. This illusion makes some people (especially those with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities) feel like social failures. They find themselves constantly comparing themselves to the online façade of others.
Companies dominate social media. Sites like Facebook and Twitter are monetised and commercialised platforms. The onslaught of company pages and promoted posts can block out any genuine interaction. Social media sites often prioritise brands and ads above all else.
Posts on social sites are politicised, full of opinions and full of unnecessary content like pictures of dinners. These posts are often irrelevant, jarring and therefore anti-social. If you were at a party, and someone started going on about the dinner they had last night or their extreme political views, you probably wouldn’t speak to them for long. But social media encourages and rewards this kind of behaviour.
It is too easy to lose track of real friends in a sea of celebrities, acquaintances, neighbours, relatives, classmates and colleagues. You lose content you may want to see in favour of photos posted by someone you met on holiday 6 years ago.
On the other hand…
Social media helps us stay in touch with people we care about when we cannot be together. When we are far apart, social media can help us feel like we are still close by.
We can choose how to represent ourselves and how to be seen on social media. You can curate what photos are posted, what information is included and so on. This means that you are represented in the most customisable way, and you can present yourself however you please.
It helps us express ourselves more in a more comfortable way. People who are shy or uncomfortable with new people, or who struggle with conversations are given the opportunity to speak freely and to have a voice where they otherwise might not. Social media can help bring people out of their shell.
Social media helps create and develop new friendships. It helps us build and nurture new connections – when you meet someone new, you can find out more about them and chat with them without seeing them in real life. This can help get new friendships started without too much awkwardness.
Social media can help starts new romantic relationships. It can allow people to get close and comfortable with each other so that they may start dating.
It can also help maintain long distance relationships (and the same for friendships and familial relationships). This is now easier as you can stay in touch when you’re apart, and keep the relationship going.
Social media is helpful for those with mental or physical illness to feel less alone and isolated. People with disabilities or illnesses can feel cut off from others. Those unable to leave the house due to depression, physical disability or chronic illness can feel as though they have no one to talk to. But with social media, these people can feel less secluded.
People are more comfortable talking about emotions, difficult topics and deep feelings on social media. This can make social media even more personal than real life in some ways, as people open up more.
Which side are you on? Let us know!
