Social media heralded the kiss of death for real-world relationships
THE use of social media by young people, experts say, has changed the concept of togetherness.
And because of the pervasiveness of technology, the trend is likely to continue.
Senior lecturer in Information Systems and Technology at University of KwaZuluNatal Dr Craig Blewett told The Mercury that “together” no longer meant physically and mentally in the same space.
“Imagine the classic scenario: ‘Let’s go and grab a coffee.’ And minutes later we find ourselves enjoying coffee with our friend while we are both looking at our own cellphones. So in a way we have become alienated from each other. For many this is acceptable, but no doubt our obsession with technology is having an impact on how we connect with each other.”
There was also the disintermediation effect of technology – where those we were meeting were being met and “connected” with online, he said.
“We meet people through apps like Tinder, choosing them from a catalogue rather than working up the courage to ask the person out. This cyber-courage emboldens us but is also making us more reticent in real world relationships.”
The youth were born with technology – from their births being tweeted to their first tooth being posted on Instagram. “It’s all they have ever known. It goes without saying that their relationship with technology is different to that of preceding generations. The new generation has become known as the ‘look-down generation’ – a phrase that aptly describes their obsession with being fixated on their devices.
“Technology will continue to pervade our lives. But it is important not to forget that our relationship is not with the tool, but with the people the tool lets us connect with. Remember that the next time you are in a coffee shop with a friend.”
Director of the Citizen Research Centre Stuart Jones said that the expression of emotions on social media was often done through emoticons and acronyms – which were poor substitutes for face-to-face emotional engagement.
“The ‘badging’ nature of social media encourages the artificial display of happiness, success and popularity. Ideally, we should be sharing the bad and the good, the defeats and the triumphs, the sadnesses and the happinesses. Instead, (young people and other users) tend to present airbrushed versions of our lives to our peers, especially on more personal platforms like Facebook.”
He said it was addictive, which could have an impact on time spent with family and friends, as well as on studying.
“Studies vary, but it seems we check our phones between 80 and 150 times a day!”
The first generation born into social media had essentially been “guinea pigs” for us all. “They are unique in that their parents could not guide them through the perils of the online world because they had limited exposure to it. As social media and online communication became more prevalent, so have the methods for exploiting people through these platforms. This means the parents of the first generation – no matter how switched on – could not predict the dangers their children might face.”
Technology had dramatically reduced solitude and increased access to information, but this tended to be visual and not tactile. “A lack of direct physical engagement with other people can lead to social anxiety, poor self-concept, depression and eating disorders.”