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Sonni Vargas
English 91
Filbeck
29 October 2014
My Computer Is My Best Friend
Does social media isolate people and cut off relationships? Many are often too caught up
with the attention from their friends on social networking sites that they feel their followers are
all they need. When people only focus on communicating with their followers online, they often
begin to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. It is important for people to not be too
invested in social media. If someone is too invested in social media, they will not only lose their
communication and social skills, but they will also lose contact with their real life friends.
Instead of messaging someone on Facebook or text messaging, it is important that people do not
lose their skills to communicate with people in the outside world because these are vital skills
that are used daily in many different situations. Because social media is progressing, people are
not communicating with others face to face and are losing vital communication skills; therefore,
social media is causing isolation.
Social networking sites and text messaging is becoming more popular as technology is
quickly advancing. Popular websites such as Facebook and Twitter have become an essential part
of communication. People use these websites to keep in touch with family and friends.
According to Aaron Smith, a senior researcher for the Pew Research Paper states that, Roughly
two thirds of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family is a
major reason they use these sites, while half say that connecting with old friends theyve lost
touch with is a major reason behind their use of these technologies. Text messaging is just the
same when it comes to keeping in touch with family and friends. It has helped many get through

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the awkward stage of talking to others for the first time without having to actually meet them in
person. With all of the advances in technology, social networking sites and text messaging have
made communicating with others quicker and easier than it has ever been before. This form of
communication has become an easier way to talk to people without actually having to go see
them face-to-face.
People are not communicating with others face-to-face as much as they used to as social
media is becoming more popular. While social media has made it easier for people to
communicate with others virtually all over the world, it is also making it hard for them to
communicate with others in real life. People are making thousands of friends online and are
building personal and/or professional relationships. After they meet people online, they then take
it to their cell phones. Nowadays relationships are built through text messages. Jeffrey Kluger
from Time magazine states, Habitual texters may not only cheat their existing relationships, they
can also limit their ability to form future ones since they dont get to practice the art of
interpreting nonverbal visual cues. Because so many people are communicating solely through
cell phones and computers, they do not know how to build a relationship in the real world. Not
talking to others face-to-face is harming people because even though they feel they have a
relationship with a certain person through a phone or computer, they are actually alone.
If people continue to only build and maintain relationships online or through text
messages, they will eventually lose their real life friendships. They feel as though their Facebook
friends and Twitter followers are all they need. Joe Robinson states, Because of social media
people have fewer close confidants outside family members more than ever. By not stepping
away from the computer to go out into the real world to communicate with others, people are
ruining friendships. It is easier to communicate with family members outside of social media

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because people most likely see them often. When it comes to friends, people figure that all they
need is social media to maintain a friendship instead of actually seeing them. Continuing to ruin
relationships like this will cause people to not be able to make friends in the real world.
People are finding it harder to make friends outside of social media. With social
networking sites and text messaging making it easier to talk to people, it is causing people to
forget how to meet new people in real life. People, especially teenagers are becoming too
isolated from the real world and do not have the skills to build relationships without a computer
or a cell phone anymore. It is starting to become normal in society to be alone and not interact
with as many people as they used to. According to Yukio Strachan, The isolation was always
there and new technology only brought it to light. If people thought making friends was hard
before, it is even harder now due to the advances in social media.
In this generation people are losing important social and communication skills because of
social networking sites and text messaging. With people only communicating with others
through a computer or phone they are not able to communicate in person. Those who are losing
their communication and social skills will only hurt them in the long run. For example, if
someone has an interview for a job and they are shy the whole time during the interview or show
a lack in communication skills, that person will most likely not get the job. The evolution of
social media is affecting future generations when it comes to finding jobs and building
relationships. According to the Wisdom Petals website, Children are unable to learn how to
properly and efficiently communicate their feelings and thoughts and with the real world. It is
mainly due to not having the chance to fully develop their communication skills in an open
environment. Although social media has made some great advances over time, it is also hurting
people in the long run.

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Social media is corrupting this societys social skills, therefore, causing isolation. The
popularity of social networking sites makes it easier for people to avoid confrontation with
others. Because they are starting to not communicate face-to-face anymore, they are losing
friendships and vital communication skills. It is important to not let social media corrupt
societys way of communicating because real life relationships will last. Facebook friends,
Twitter followers, and text messages will not be there forever. Good communication and social
skills will last a lifetime.

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Works Cited
Hampton, Keith, Lauren S. Goublet, Her J. Eun, and Rainie Lee. "Social Isolation and New
Technology." Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. N.p., 4 Nov.
2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://www.pewinternet.org/2009/11/04/social-isolationand-new-technology/>.
Kluger, Jeffrey. "We Never Talk Anymore: The Problem with Text Messaging | TIME.com."
Time. Time, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://techland.time.com/2012/08/16/we-nevertalk-anymore-the-problem-with-text-messaging/>.
Robinson, Joe. "Is Social Networking Destroying Our Social Lives?" The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 01 Feb. 2011. Web. 18 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-robinson/social-network_b_816108.html>.
Smith, Aaron. "Why Americans Use Social Media." Pew Research Centers Internet American
Life Project RSS. N.p., 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/11/15/why-americans-use-social-media/>.
"Social Media:How It Is Destroying You."Wisdom Petals. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.wisdompetals.com/index.php/science-and-technology/internet-andmedia/144-social-media-how-it-is-destroying-you>.
Strachan, Yukio. "Does Social Media Cause a More Isolated Society?" Does Social Media Cause
a More Isolated Society? N.p., 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/322982>.