Does social networking damage or improve our sense of unity in a modern world?
It is no longer realistic to expect to get through a typical day without some interaction with your preferred social media site. Internet use is so fundamental to daily life that asking others to cut down on their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram activity in favor of physical contact or face-to-face conversation is seen as an unreasonable request. Naturally, this saturation of online socialization begs the question: should we be worried? Some would say that virtual interactions lack the quality of traditional companionships. But can social networks actually be used to improve genuine emotional support in an isolating world? Perhaps there are advantages to being connected through social media that outweigh the negatives. Psychological research can help us understand how online communities can be healthy complements to face-to-face communication.
According to a study by Pew Research Center, social media is not as socially isolating as previously studies would have us believe. Despite worries that new technologies have left Americans alienated and with fewer ties to neighborhood communities, the data suggests that modern Internet and cell phone use is actually associated with increased and more diverse social interactions (Hampton, Goulet, Her, & Rainie, 2009). Tang, Zheng, and Fan (2015) additionally found that social support from online communities improves the quality of life of people living with chronic diseases – a group who often faces social exclusion. The researchers discovered that, in addition to providing information and companionship, emotional support from online health care communities had a significantly positive impact on the psychological and the physical well-being of medical patients suffering from chronic disorders (Tang, Zheng, & Fan, 2015).
On the other hand, research does show a connection between psychological disturbances and problematic Internet usage. Casale, Lecchi, and Fioravanti (2015) found that overall, there is evidence to suggest that low psychological well-being is associated with culturally inappropriate use of Internet communicative services. This seems to indicate that, rather than causing psychological problems such as social isolation, the Internet is sometimes used as a tool or coping mechanism by individuals who already exhibit troublesome or adverse psychological tendencies. If used in an unhealthy way, time spent online can exacerbate those already existant symptoms (Casale, Lecchi, & Fioravanti, 2015). In other words, the Internet does not cause normal, healthy individuals to become unhealthy, psychologically-unstable individuals. Those suffering from psychological issues may have an increased tendency to use the Internet in problematic ways, but the Internet itself is not the problem – the underlying psychological issues that already exist are.
The bottom line is that informed social media users who are aware of the dangers of the Internet can use social networking to complement and enrich their social lives. Interweaving online and face-to-face interaction allows us to develop a broader range of contacts through access to new networks and local businesses or activity groups. For example, research shows that Internet users are more likely to visit cafes and coffee shops than people who don’t use the Internet, and since people are no longer restricted to using the Internet exclusively at home, time spent online does not necessarily have to detract from activities taking place in public spaces like libraries, bars, and restaurants (Hampton, Goulet, Her, & Rainie, 2009). At the end of the day (and as with anything else), moderation is key. Social networks do not have to replace traditional interaction; used properly, the Internet can be an effective tool that aids us in adapting to a changing society in a way that provides more, not less, human contact. Meeting friends through new avenues, learning about opportunities in your local area, and deriving social support from people all over the world are just some of the ways online communities can strengthen our sense of unity.
References
Casale, S., Lecchi, S., & Fioravanti, G. (2015). The association between psychological well-being and problematic use of internet communicative services among young people. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 149(5), 480-497.
Hampton, K., Goulet, L. S., Her, E. J., & Rainie, L. (2009). Social isolation and new technology. Pew Research Center.
Tang, Y., Zheng, Q., & Fan, X. (2015). The impact of online social support on patients’ quality of life and the moderating role of social exclusion. Journal of Service Research, 18(3), 369-383.
Tags: Community
I do like you blog post, it is very interesting as well as informative. It truly has given me something to think about next time I go online. About the only online community I belong to these days is ANGEL. I do like the point you made about online communities and the research done showing how beneficial they are for those living with a chronic illness can experience an improved quality of life through online communities. I can see where this would be helpful for that group of people. Now I did read an article that talked about a study done at Cornell University’ that often times online communities foster a false sense of consecutiveness for those building or trying to build a true relationship (Jung, 2015). I also agree that those informed social media users who are aware of the pitfalls of online communities and internet usage are able to broaden their range of contacts, but how do we protect those individuals suffering a chronic illness from being taken advantage of? Often times they are in a vulnerable state of mind and easy prey for unscrupulous individuals:
References:
Jung, B. (2015). The Negative Effect of Social Media on Society and Individuals. Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/negative-effect-social-media-society-individuals-27617.html