Is Technology Helping or Hurting Human Connection?

The evolution of technology has led to its frequent use in humans everyday lives. As some may believe we are better off without it, others view that we can benefit from it. From technology’s vast collection of information, to the numerous resources easily applicable from the touch of a button, it makes our lives easier as it saves us from the hassle. As such, we should recognize its impacts on people’s social awareness. With all sorts of technology like phones and computers that we have become so immersed in, it is playing a factor in our ability to socialize appropriately with others. More so, we divert our focus away from conversing with others, resulting in the lack of skills, primarily listening and empathizing, from being developed. 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 accessing technology has been beneficial to him in forming friendships based on the online platforms that help influence connections. The other student, Elizabeth Gagnon and her piece, “Technology Essay” highlights how focusing our attention towards our devices is altering our ability to communicate with others as we are losing communication skills. All three writers focus on the importance of technology’s effects on human interaction 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 ability to converse and build social skills during in-person conversation.  

It can be perceived that technology is a place to meet new people, but creates a missed opportunity to engage in face-to-face interactions with others. While Briggs demonstrates the benefits of technology through shaping friendships, Gagnon on the other hand suggests the downside of technology as it hinders constructive in-person conversation. Through the many social media platforms or interactive websites like online games it gives people a place to find someone with common interests, which can spark a friendship. It can be challenging to put yourself out there in the real world, but this online space can be an outlet setting you up to meet people whom you genuinely see a potential friendship with. In life you may find yourself limited to people who you truly connect with, as the community you are surrounded in may not share the same values as you. However, online it consists of many people from various backgrounds and interests, guaranteeing you to bond with someone who is as like-minded as you. 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” (2-3). 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 allowed him 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” (2). 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 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 creating friendships, as I too have been able to connect with people through primarily the use of social media. By simply coming across someone’s post, liking it, then following them I’ve made my presence known and took the first step in forming a connection. Therefore, Briggs’ idea appears to be relevant in this day and age based on the online world being the hub for numerous individuals to come together and connect. 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. Since those involved share the joy of playing video games it could be the start to furthering the potential friendship that may already exist. I also agree with Gagnon, as I understand why she’s referencing how technology’s presence is negatively impacting individuals  from effectively engaging in-person conversation. This speaks true to me as when we are so consumed in our 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. 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. 

Being subject to using technology can pose a barrier to social interactions in a physical setting, leading to crucial skills of listening and empathizing being lost based on the huge distraction it causes. Turkle and Gagnon seek to address how 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. In other words, the heavy distraction from either a text message notification or a TikTok video immediately strips us from the current conversation, creating a missed opportunity to practice strengthening those crucial skills. Turkle emphasizes 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, getting sucked into its content that we can never escape. Ultimately, we are then 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 when composing, “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” (2). 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. 

Based on Turkle and Gagnon’s mutual views, I agree with both of their 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. Since we can get a sense of what’s happening around the world and in others lives we need to be informed about it, 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 content, which draws away someone’s ability to attend to the current conversation. This is a frequent occurrence that I and many others have experienced, based on how we turn towards our phone and become so invested in its content that we are then unaware of what was said or what is happening in the current moment. I see value in face-to-face conversations as it is sustainable to human skills, due to th3 interactive state that it creates, which solely depends on using these skills to effectively conduct an interaction. Listening and empathizing are built from the conversations held with one another. However, this is lost as we’ve shifted our attention to technology, which will have lasting effects in terms of the future and shaping our career as we can’t perform in the workplace successfully. 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 phones instead of meaningful situations where our social abilities can thrive. 

Technology has brought upon endless possibilities to get in touch and learn more about the world. Being able to go online is a gateway into meeting new people and finding those who also value the same interests as us. With that being said, we must take a step back and broaden our view to recognize what technology is doing to our in-person interactions. Phones 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 skills of listening and empathizing as we no longer can engage with others to our best potential. Being able to put these skills to the test enables us to effectively interpret others’ feelings and ideas which are components to life that help us understand each other. When technology comes into play it blocks individuals from doing so, leading to a failure in functioning appropriately in social settings. It is critical to not lose these abilities as it helps shape us to be successful in the future. Especially in terms of jobs or a 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 shouldn’t lose sight of how it may be disassociating you from connecting in the real world.