Does Social Media Make us Lonely?

The Impact of Social Media on Social Interactions

The controversy about whether social media has a positive or negative impact on our social interactions will not go away anytime soon. Every month, an article is written on this subject, with some claiming that social media is to blame for the current society’s alienation. Others attempt to defend the online interaction site by blaming other causes for the alienation that most people experience in the twenty-first century.

The Deterioration of Emotional Communication and Constructive Interaction

Despite the society’s two competing factions, certain basic issues remain unanswered. Has the inherent human ability to communicate emotionally and engage in constructive interaction deteriorated? Suppose we were to remove the social media out of the equation, could we say that overtime people ability to socialize has deteriorated? Well, there has been no research that has confirmed that the past generations had more capacity to make a face to face engagements compared to the current generation. According to Sherry Turkle, isolation existed from time memorial (Strachan, 2012). Technological advancements have only brought out this fact more clearly. However, this cannot be said for sure.

The Claim of Irreplaceability of Face-to-Face Interactions

The second unresolved question is whether the claim of irreplaceability of face to face interactions is true. According to the author of the first article, meditated communications through social media platforms can be converted into a kind of visceral or real sociality in our brain (Zynep, 2012). This is to say; it is possible to convert texts and images shared on the online platforms into something similar to the face to face interconnection by “hacking” the brain just as how a speaking child could be taught how to read. He suggests that the ability to do this varies from one individual to another.

The Loneliness Epidemic and Its Causes

The central questions in this debate are, one, whether human beings have become lonelier. To this, both sides of the discussion concur. There is an agreement that people have become lonelier in the recent past. Deep and meaningful connections are becoming increasingly rare. It is common ground for the debates on this subject that people become more afraid of intimacy. People want quick-fix ’connections’ which they can control without getting too much involved (Banks, 2013).

The Role of Social Media in Loneliness

The point of departure between these two sides is whether social media platforms are solely to blame for this worrying trend. While one side believes that other factors such as mistrust, economic hardships, terrorism, and racism among others contribute to the alienation of the human species from others, the other side places the entire blame on the advancement of social sites. They argue that social media has replaced connection with conversations. Through social media platforms, people post their best pictures with the best-composed captions. This edits and deletes bits of their real self, something that prohibits the formation of thick friendship bonds and ties. Furthermore, people are demanding more from their devices than from their actual friends hence the alienation. Majority of people cannot make a proper conversation because they fear it (Strachan, 2012).

The Importance of Face-to-Face Interactions

In the course of the debate, one thing is clear, that real face to face interactions is necessary. The author of the first article, who denies that social media causes loneliness, agrees that nothing could replace a reciprocated smile or an affectionate hug from a friend (Zynep, 2012). The agreement to this fact by both parties, coupled with the reduced face to face engagement and the rise of the use of social media, explain the reason why this debate about social media and loneliness is yet to be concluded.

The Relationship between Social Media and Loneliness

Another interesting question that comes to mind and is of interest to this debate. Is it the presence of social media sites that have caused many people to become lonely and alienated or the vice versa (Bates, 2013). Is it the lonely nature of the human beings that have driven them to online platforms to try and seek companion? Perhaps the lack of consensus and definitive answer to this questions is another reason why we keep going back and forth in as far as this debate is concerned. As long as some people believe that it is our lonely nature that drives us to social media, then there will be phenomena such as cyber asocial, a term coined by one of the opposes to this debate.

The Need for Further Research

All in all this debate not only exciting but also informative. However, it raises other pertinent questions that need to be researched upon to come up with a conclusive answer that will ensure that parties are arguing from an informed and scientifically proven point of view. If this happens, then I believe we shall come up with a definitive position that will end this debate once and for all. Meanwhile, we can continue with the debate.

Works Cited

Banks, S. Social networks bring us closer to isolation, Los Angeles Times, 0ctober, 05/2010. Retrieved from articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/05/local/la-me-banks-20101005

Bates, J. The Innovation of Loneliness: Do social Networks Erode Real Relationships. Refine the mind, 2013. Retrieved from www.reinethemind.com/the-innovation-of-loneliness/ Accessed on 23/10/2017.

Bungue, J. Networking Straight Into Isolation. Liberty Champions, 2013. Retrieved from www.liberty.edu/champion/2013/09/networkin-straight-into-isolation/Accessed on 23/10/2017.

Strachan, Y. Does Social Media cause a More Isolated Society? Digital Journal, 2012. Retrieved from m.dijgitaljournal.com/article/322982/

Zeynep, Tufecki. Does Facebook cause loneliness? Short answer no. Techno sociology, our tools, ourselves, (2012). Retrieved from http://technosociology.org/?p=1035

Annotated Bibliography

Banks, S. Social networks bring us closer to isolation, Los Angeles Times, 0ctober, 05/2010. Retrieved from articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/05/local/la-me-banks-20101005

In this newspaper, the author of the article narrates how a freshman committed suicide as a result of exposure to an online social forum by his roommate. Technology ha promoted animosity and lack of human principals. People are crueler and mean to each other especially when they can hide in anonymity.

Bates, J. The Innovation of Loneliness: Do social Networks Erode Real Relationships. Refine the mind, 2013. Retrieved from www.refinethemind.com/the-innovation-of-loneliness/ Accessed on 23/10/2017.

Jordan Bates, the author of this article seeks to explain the reasons as to why social media platforms are addictive and appealing despite their disastrous effect on meaningful interactions. He then goes ahead to provide measures that can help us mitigate the situation.

Bungie, J. Networking Straight Into Isolation. Liberty Champions, 2013. Retrieved from www.liberty.edu/champion/2013/09/networkin-straight-into-isolation/ Accessed on 23/10/2017.

The author quotes a famous social media star, Cohen, that social media has robbed us our humanity. People are increasingly replacing human interaction with technology which is an unfortunate thing. Furthermore, social media has made people to hide their real selves and only present their ideal selves online and hence limiting the possibility of forming deep bonds. The statement by Cohen that social media hides a painful part for most people that need to be brought out is nothing but the plain truth.

Strachan, Y. Does Social Media cause a More Isolated Society? Digital Journal, 2012. Retrieved from m.dijgitaljournal.com/article/322982/

According to Sherry Turkle, social networks have the potential to change who we are by altering our belief system and attitudes. People are so addicted to social media such that they are no longer fully present and cannot give maximum attention. She also claims that people are lonely yet they are afraid of the commitments that come with intimacy. I share in sherry Truckle Sentiments that we need to end this situation of loneliness by taking a risk to emotionally engage with other people in a way that is meaningful and impactful.

Zeynep, Tufecki. Does Facebook cause loneliness? Short answer no. Techno sociology, our tools, ourselves, (2012). Retrieved from http://technosociology.org/?p=1035

The author of this article disagrees with most people. According to him, social media does not make people lonely instead it has the opposite effects. He claims that other reasons make people more isolated in the current world