Austin Granger Issue Exploration Paper English-1010

Has Social Media Made Us Less Social?

In our modern age of technology, we have seen the birth of new forms

of medias. Medias whose goals are to connect us, by means of short posts on

life events or sharing photos. But have these medias that are meant to

connect us, driving us away from socializing? Have our new technologies

created new habits? Who are we now as a society without our phones? Has

social media made us less social.

Technology has changed and flourished over the years in drastic

measures. Branching out from the days of dial-up internet and manifesting

into advanced computers that can be contained within our pockets, we have

been fortunate enough to witness a substantial growth. Has this rapid

change in the market done well to benefit us, or has it created social barriers

for menial situations? Its fair to say that the evolution of social media has

created countless opportunities for employment and has provided a new age.

With the booming rise of sites and applications like Facebook, Instagram,

Twitter, and Tinder, we as a society have found a comfortable niche that

some would say breeds complacency. As a society, we have formed a

dependence on the social media that has become so easily accessible to us.

One indication: A recent Pew Research survey of adults in the U.S. found

that 71% use Facebook at least occasionally, and 45% of Facebook users

check the site several times a day. Dr. Hampton (Wall Street Journal) It

clearly demonstrates an innate desire (if not a need) for people to seek the

next best means to stay connected to the world around them. That sounds
Austin Granger Issue Exploration Paper English-1010

like people are becoming more sociable. But some people think the opposite

is happening. The problem, they say, is that we spend so much time

maintaining superficial connections online that we arent dedicating enough

time or effort to cultivating deeper real-life relationships. Too much chatter,

too little real conversation. - Dr. Hampton (Wall Street Journal)

The burst of the technological age has been an astounding one.

Perhaps it is this rise in discovery and ease-of-access that has made social

media such a prosperous business. The market thrives on it, basing their

releases and upcoming launches on the applications that we have at hand.

Social media or more accurately, the content that is easy to spread via

social media has the ability to make people act in very specific ways that

are positive to business owners. Peter Roesler (The Business Journals)

With the luxury of owning and the knowledge to operate the technology that

we have, even the marketplace has profited from these advances. Cell

phones, tablets, laptops, and even streaming devices are subject to a means

of marketing that allows businesses and corporations to thrive in this

technological day and age. It has grown so extensive that Facebook posts

regarding restaurants and fast-food chains will boost the popularity of such

establishments. While we have witnessed, and reaped the benefits of this

societal transition, some would say that it has also hindered our ability to

perform simple tasks that require even a measure of true socialization.

All things considered, the usage of social media seems to have

provided us with some monumental development and can be seen as an

Austin Granger Issue Exploration Paper English-1010

advancement to a greater age. Could it be said that our dependence has

stalled the growth of actual socialization? Some would say, yes. We may

have found ourselves at a point where we expect more from technology and

less from each other. Why would you leave the comfort of your home to

attend a night out with friends when you can surf Facebook or Instagram and

feel as if youve shared the companionship of numerous people in a matter

of moments? Abandoning the idea of dissocializing to socialize, we can note

that the need for technology and even the applications that found social

media have branched out from personal conditions and leaked into the

workplace. Are you hoping to seek a new position with a better company?

You shouldnt necessarily worry about providing a printed version of your

resume. Instead, plan to apply online with a digital copy and a cover letter.

Better yet, make sure you include your LinkedIn profile for references and

letters of recommendation. What happens when youre invited in for an

interview, though? Due to the instant gratification of having these social

apps and websites, we oftentimes forget how to behave in a face-to-face

situation. Daily overuse of media and technology makes children and teens

prone to anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders. David M.

(Lorirtaylor) That need for affirmation and instant gratification has brought us

to the point where we dont know how to behave in hypothetical situations.

Its almost as though we cant begin to comprehend the prospect of chance.

Still, it has expanded the means we have for scientific research and has

produced some brilliant minds within our society. In some aspects, weve
Austin Granger Issue Exploration Paper English-1010

taken the prospect of the unknown and shrunk it down to infinitesimal size.

Weve built bridges with social media that cannot be compared to anything

of real construct; a means to reach the ends of the earth. Weve found ways

to network and establish new relationships without the roadblocks of a

continental divide. In ways, its made us significantly closer.

Weve come a long way, and we have a long way to go. In everything

that starts, you will find noteworthy benefits and equal disadvantages, but it

is safe to say that technology and social media are not things we should take

lightly. They provide us with a powerful means of communicating with the

world around us in ways we could scarcely imagine and have founded a

new age in development for us as people and the businesses that surround

our environment. Some would argue that this advancement has made us

recluses, hardly allowing us to socialize at all, and enveloping us in a

lackluster existence. Our best hope would be to find the middle ground.

Search for intimacy on social media, and youll most likely discover

emptiness. Search for opportunity, and youve hit a gold mine. David M.

(Lorirtaylor)