Whether you are traveling to work, school, or any other destination, life has become fast-paced. Stopping to greet others in passing is slowly fading away. But why? Social media is beginning to impact how we communicate and live with one another. Within the past few decades, we have become addicted to social media and the ease of mobile communication. While mobile communication may be easier for our busy lifestyles, it may ultimately compromise our meaningful communication and interpersonal relationships.
Open messaging with social media
With privacy settings set to the highest possible security, anything said or created online has the potential to be leaked or inadvertently shared with the world. What we might have communicated privately to one another face-to-face can now be shared over many platforms and distances within an instant. We can post positive messages, spread hate, and even share our opinions with thousands of people. Yet, while we are able to communicate with many people on social media, it seems that our interpersonal communication is diminishing. We are so focused on what is happening on our mobile devices that we lose focus on what is happening in front of us. Studies have found that mobile device addiction/abuse is becoming an issue. Anxiety is increasing among teenagers, especially those who compare their looks to unrealistic or retouched photos like the girl in the image below.
While addiction may not affect everyone, more people seem unable to hold a meaningful in-person discussion with a friend, colleague, or child. While social media has some perks, it distracts us from the important moments in life.
Viewpoint diversity diminishes
In addition to having an infinite outlet of communication platforms, we are beginning to see diversity of viewpoints and opinions diminishing. Social media allows us to repost, like, and follow specific people based on our interests and beliefs. Suppose we do not like seeing a particular viewpoint; in that case, we can instantly dislike, report, or unfollow a person or post. This ability to filter the opinions that we see has diminished the diversity of our viewpoints. We no longer have to listen to another perspective or argue our side with social media. This ability has affected our interpersonal communication completely. People are now disproving others’ opinions. If you do not have a particular view, you could get canceled online or cause an angry or violent argument in person.
It is evident that our lives and interpersonal communication are being affected by social media, and it can be both positive or negative. While social media allows us to broadly communicate positive information or opinions, we are losing the face-to-face aspect. We no longer have to talk to one another in person but can instead send a message instantly. We are losing focus on what is happening right in front of us, like spending little, if any, time with family and friends.
There are many incredible resources to help you learn more about mobile devices and social media usage and its impacts. Here are a few links to share, and you can simply Google keywords like “Social Media addiction” or “Impact of Social Media” to find resources such as these:
Our Social Media Addiction: Harvard Business Review
Social Media’s Growing Impact on Our Lives: American Psychological Association
Social Media Use and Impact on Interpersonal Communication | SpringerLink