The world is going digital more and more. Online activities include shopping, starting businesses, relaxing, and even making lifelong friends. 59% of people on the planet were active internet users as of July 2020. The internet is expected to play a greater role in our lives going forward, bringing us closer to commodities. But can technology help people get better at interacting with others?
Every innovator in the fast-moving field of technology is competing for the top spot on the podium. Every day, new ideas are being tested in an effort to offer what the public will buy tools that will make our everyday lives simpler. We are uncannily getting closer to a society in which most social interaction will take place online as older generations become more open to the concept of using technology in the event of a pandemic.
But is this a development that should be viewed as beneficial or negative? New communication technologies: Will they improve or harm human interaction? We shall examine the positive, negative, and ugly truths of technology's effect on social contact in this post.
Here are some good and bad points of technology
Good Points
It cannot be disputed that the internet has improved human communication. We are today more linked than ever before compared to eras before the internet. Here are a few examples of how technology enhances social connection.
Global communication in real time
What impact may technology have on social media? The majority of us can now instantly contact folks who are on the opposite side of the globe. Technology has eliminated the hurdles to communication that distance formerly posed, so there is no need to wait for the mailman, a messenger pigeon, or a message in a bottle. Globalisation is a term that is frequently used to describe this phenomenon.
Online connections
Let's examine how technology impacts interpersonal interactions. People may now have emotional relationships without needing to be in the same room thanks to video chatting programmes like Skype and Zoom. This has proven crucial during the coronavirus outbreak, which drove families from different homes to live apart. Zoom was downloaded 2.13 million times worldwide on the day the UK lock-down was announced, an increase from 56,000 downloads daily two months prior.
Bad Points
Eye Contact
Maintaining eye contact while knowing when to do so is a crucial social skill. When you spend more than ten hours a day staring at screens, you lose the capacity to direct your gaze during one-on-one interactions. The average American spends more than five hours per day using computers and mobile devices, and another four and a half hours watching television, according to recent estimates. The typical mobile user also checks their phone 150 times every day.
It is impossible to overstate the value of eye contact in interpersonal interactions, whether at work or in the classroom. The eyes make up about 43% of the attention we pay to a person, making them the most powerful nonverbal communication tool. Additionally, it is essential for the growth of emotional ties. Making eye contact with someone can help you influence them. When speaking to a coworker, look at them with assurance and respect. In a discussion or disagreement, maintaining a steady gaze can indicate that one is standing their ground.
Awareness of Space and Dangerous Distraction
One may become less conscious of the physical world around them when they are intensely concentrated on their own electronic world. The repercussions of not paying attention grow increasingly obvious as technology and interruptions become more common. The brain has a finite amount of bandwidth, according to cognitive science studies, and multitasking forces the brain to use a single, scarce resource, which slows reaction time.
Span of Attention
When someone is bored at work, at a meeting, or during a conversation, it might be quite evident. Being socially adept includes knowing when to concentrate and pay attention. According to a recent study by Microsoft Corporation, the human attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to eight seconds over the past ten years as a result of the digital lifestyle, making it more difficult to maintain focus. Heavy multiplexers struggle to block out unimportant stimuli and are more susceptible to being sidetracked by several media sources. The shrinking human attention span is a result of the proliferation of technological devices. In order to multitask more effectively, the desire to be constantly connected can reduce attention spans.