for the exploratory paper essay

Social networking service may negatively affect a person’s behavior. Forms of such things like instant messaging and chat rooms are called social networking service, also known as ‘SNS.’ SNS shifted the way people communicate, but also affects behavior negatively. Nevertheless, since people live in the world where every single word is sent by technology, living without it seems impossible. The issue is, do e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, and other forms of online communication bring people closer together? All three sources answer “No.” Even though modern technology makes people’s life better, it slowly enslaves them little by little; people can’t live without it anymore. The three sources take up the position that social networking service affects people’s behavior negatively, although with three different perspectives.

First of all, the issue of negative effect of technology on communication is viewed by Susan Tardanico from the sociological perspective. Impact on interpersonal communication is the most prominent negative effect of technology on communication and lack of interpersonal communication has reduced the nonverbal grasping power of individuals. Susan Tardanico argues that increased frequency of communication through texting and chatting cause lack of the ability to express the ideas and emotions to others face-to-face. People use their nonverbal cues, such as a smile or a frown when they communicate with others face-to-face and this is another layer of communication. But technology doesn’t allow people to catch these sorts of nonverbal cues. This leads people to misunderstand the actual meaning of what others intend to say (“Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication?”). Overall, Susan Tardanico emphasizes technology causes lack of interpersonal communication. The evidence she uses to support her thesis does support her sociological perspective. For example, she writes, “With 93% of our communication context stripped away, we are now attempting to forge relationships and make decisions based on phrases. Abbreviations. Snippets. Emoticons. Which may or may not be accurate representations of the truth” (Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication?). For such sociological reasons, author’s position is satisfactorily explained. Furthermore there is the psychological perspective.

Moreover, the issue of anxiety disorder was reported by CBS Seattle from the psychological perspective. Facebook and Twitter, the most widely used social networking services now can affect person’s behavior psychologically. CBS Seattle claims that the pressures from technology act as a tipping point, making people feel more insecure and more overwhelmed. The news goes into detail that behaviors such as having trouble being able to disconnect and relax, spending too much time in front of a computer and comparing themselves to others could be referred to as anxiety disorders. The study found that 45 percent of people who surveyed answered they feel uncomfortable and insecure when they have no internet access (“Facebook, Twitter Affects Behavior Negatively”). Taken as a whole, CBS Seattle maintains that social networking service can affect people feel more insecure and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, social networking service is easy, convenient, and even attractive. They have made it possible to keep in touch with others wherever and whenever people want; which means it’s hard to get rid of them. In the article, Nicky Ledbetter, CEO of Anxiety UK said “We were surprised by the high proportion of people who found that the only way to ensure a break from the demands of their devices was to switch them off, as they were not capable of simply ignoring them” (qtd. in Facebook, Twitter Affects Behavior Negatively). The problem probably is, people who abuses social networking service too much, not Facebook or Twitter. Beside a psychological perspective on the issue, there is also the sociological perspective.

Lastly, Andrew Leonard tells his audiences that another negative effect of technology on communication is the way people communicate these days. His perspective on this issue is sociological. People prefer communicating with friends and family through e-mail and texting rather than communicating by letters because of its convenience. Andrew Leonard insists that forms of such things like e-mail and texting made our communication process easier, but made it emotionless at the same time. Today, it is rare that one receives a handwritten letter in the mail from a friend or loved one. Instead, one has texting, IM, Facebook, e-mail, and many other ways to communicate with people quickly. Sometimes this is a blessing, when people need to get friends together last minute for a night out or to check up on others they otherwise wouldn’t keep in contact with (“We’ve Got Mail”). Overall, Andrew Leonard states that sometimes old fashion is better than rely on technology. The following passage shows how e-mail and instant messaging make our communication process emotionless. He writes, “So instead of creating something new, we forward something old. Instead of crafting the perfect phrase, we use a brain-dead abbreviation: imho for In My Humble Opinion, or rotflmao, for Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A-- Off” (We’ve Got Mail). Handwritten letters are sentimental and meaningful. Someone took the time and effort to write the letter and put thought into it. When listening to older generations, some will tell stories of receiving letters from their lover while they were away at war. To this day, some of these people still have those love letters in their possession.

All in all, from a sociological and psychological perspective, people should spend their time with social networking service in moderation. People are always connected to the world and able to keep in touch with people they love. Today, wireless internet access is everywhere– readily available in homes, schools, and even on airplanes. However, communication through texting and chatting cause lack of the ability to express the ideas and emotions to others face-to-face. Also, social networking services can affect person’s behavior negatively. Finally, e-mail and texting made our communication process easier, but made it emotionless at the same time. Nevertheless, it all depends on how people use them right. If people don’t stop abusing, they also won’t stop enslaving us and the day people can’t live without them will surely come. Overall all three sources present an effective argument using evidence that makes sense for their particular perspective and audience.

Works Cited

CBS Seattle “Study: Facebook, Twitter Affects Behavior Negatively” CBS.com July 10, 2012 Web. Apr 18, 2014.

Social networking services can affect person’s behavior negatively. Behaviors such as having trouble being able to disconnect and relax, spending too much time in front of a computer and comparing themselves to others could be referred to as anxiety disorders. However, it all depends on how people use them right.

Leonard, Andrew “We’ve Got Mail – Always” New Directions Second Edition Ed. Peter S. Gardner: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 148. Print.

Forms of such things like e-mail and texting made our communication process easier, but made it emotionless at the same time. People prefer communicating with friends and family through e-mail and texting rather than communicating by letters because of its convenience.

Tardanico, Susan “Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication?” Forbes.com Apr 30, 2012 Web. Apr 19, 2014.

Lack of interpersonal communication has reduced the nonverbal grasping power of individuals. Susan Tardanico argues that increased frequency of communication through texting and chatting cause lack of the ability to express the ideas and emotions to others face-to-face.