Is Technology Helping or Hurting Human Connection?

Technology has become so frequently used in our everyday lives, some may believe we are better off without it, while others see we can benefit from it. From its vast collection of information and resources that technology provides, making our lives easier as it saves us from the hassle, we should recognize its impacts to people’s social awareness. With all sorts of technology like phones and computers that we have become so immersed in, it ultimately is playing a factor in our ability to socialize appropriately with others. Sherry Turkle, an author who holds a doctorate in sociology and psychology addresses in her work, “The Empathy Diaries” technology’s effects on human conversation in regards to the distraction it imposes leading to a loss of empathy. While two University of New England students also stress the idea of the relationship between technology and socialization. One student, Cote Briggs, shares in his essay, “Technology Isn’t All Fun & Games: Here’s Why” how social media use has been beneficial to him in forming friendships based on the online platforms that influence connections. The other student, Elizabeth Gagnon, writes in her essay highlighting how focusing our attention towards our devices is hindering our ability to communicate with others as we are losing certain skills. All three writers focus on the importance of technology’s effects on human communication in a variety of ways. Consuming technology provides a source to connect with others, but is responsible for the distraction it causes as it damages the abilities to converse and build social skills during in-person conversation.  

Technology can be perceived as a place to meet new people, but creates a missed opportunity to engage in face to face interactions with others. Through the many social media platforms or collaborative sites like online games allows people to find someone with common interests, which can spark a friendship. In Brigg’s piece he shares his experience related to this idea, “The web and social media also allowed me to communicate with like-minded individuals… I was able to connect with those with like-minded goals and aspirations. Those who had shared my sense of humor. I’ve also been able to gain my own friends throughout the web over the years, typically through online games or forum discussions.” Briggs recognizes that using technology has been helpful in terms of being able to interact with others and make new friends through the available websites that allow you to do so. While being active online may lead you to discover new people, it also takes away the ability to appropriately communicate in person. Gagnon shares her concerns about technology’s effects on conversation as she composes, “Technology creates a bubble around you, isolating you from the outside world. Kids that grow up with an iPad in their hand are losing their people skills. I have seen that they cannot effectively convey their feelings, remediate conflicts with words, or hold a conversation with others.” Gagnon emphasizes that turning to technology all the time is altering our success to conduct face to face conversations as our skills involved are becoming weakened. Both of these students bring up points that I resonate with. I understand where Briggs is coming from in regards to technology providing the opportunity to bond with others and allow for friendships to be built as I too have been able to connect with people through primarily the use of social media. Therefore Briggs’ idea appears to be relevant in this day and age. Platforms like social media apps enable you to come across a new face that may spark an interest in wanting to get to know them better. Whereas when gaming online you may be put in random teams and have to work with others to achieve the goal of that game in particular. Since those involved share the joy of playing video games it can be a start to furthering the potential friendship that exists. I also agree with Gagnon as I understand why she’s referencing how technology’s presence is negatively impacting individuals ability to effectively engage in-person conversation. This speaks true to me as when we are so consumed and focused on the devices we disassociate ourselves from fully being devoted to taking part in the interaction happening before us. As a result we lose our ability to perform certain social skills as Gagnon previously mentioned. Consuming technology can be both beneficial and detrimental to social interaction as it displays platforms to generate new friendships, but damages one’s social skills when faced with participating in a discussion. 

Technology can be a barrier to social interactions in a physical setting that leads to crucial skills being lost based on the huge distraction it causes. As our devices are readily available we have them right at our fingertips. We’d rather focus on being involved in the digital realm rather than showing our undivided attention to those we are seeking a conversation with. Turkle highlights technology as a form of distraction when she writes, “we have become accustomed to a constant feed of connection, information, and entertainment. We are forever elsewhere” (344). Turkle acknowledges that humans are always seeking to go on their phones, becoming so immersed in all its content that we can never escape it and ultimately we are unable to reclaim our present state of in person context. Gagnon addresses a relatively similar idea in terms of the distraction technology creates. Gagnon states her concerns in her essay, “People are so sucked into their games and social media that they no longer experience what is around them. I personally have experienced trying to converse with someone but losing the attention battle between their phones. The number of times I have had to repeat myself, solely on the fact that they were distracted by technology is astounding.” Here it is evident that Gagnon also sees the struggles of designating our focus to what is happening in our physical presence involving conversation as we’ve shifted our attention towards our devices instead. I agree with both Turkle and Gagnon on they’re perspectives of technology weighing as a distraction. I reside with Turkle and how we consistently have the desire to shift towards our phones in order to feel connected to what’s happening around the world, which leads us to never fully be present. I resonate with Gagnon’s idea as well as she elaborates on how phones are able to suck us in with all sorts of intriguing platforms and how it draws away someone’s ability to attend to the current conversation. This is a frequent occurrence that even I and many others experienced, based on how we turn towards our phone and become so consumed in all of its content that we are then unaware of what was said or what is happening in the current setting they’re in. I see value in engaging in face-to-face conversations as it is sustainable to human skills. These skills such as listening and empathizing are built from the conversations held with one another. However this is lost as we’ve shifted our attention to technology disengaging us from the opportunity to strengthen these skills through conversation. Ultimately, Turkle and Gagnon raise a relevant concern as technology appeals to be a great source for entertainment, but with this we’ve dedicated all of our focus into our phones instead of meaningful situations where our social abilities can thrive. 

Technology has brought upon us endless possibilities of ways to get in touch and learn more about the world. Being able to go online is a gateway into meeting new people and find those who also value the same interests as you. Although, we must take a step back and broaden our view to recognize what technology is doing to our face-to-face interactions. The use of our phones primarily have acted as a distraction since we can never devote our attention to being an active participant in a conversation with others. As we prefer to go online, this is a habit that will likely threaten our important social skills. Being able to listen and empathize effectively are a few components to human life that help us understand each other. When technology comes into play it blocks individuals from doing so, leading to a failure in being able to function appropriately in social settings. It is crucial to not lose these abilities as it also helps shape us to be successful in the future. Especially in terms of jobs or your career where a worthy worker with strong character can be key. Throughout your time spent on technology you might be introduced to potential long-term friendships by those you meet online, but you should pay attention to how it may be disengaging you from connecting in the real world.