Name 1
Is Facebook making us Lonely? – The Atlantic
Causes and Effects of Social Media
Name waleed mubarak
Professor Patricia Collins Roller
Course English 1010 ww2
Date 26/3/2015
Abstract
Social media is becoming a most commonly used medium of communication. Social
networking mainly is a web based communication that occurs through websites between the
internet users via websites or through mobile phones. Advancement of social media technologies
has enabled people to communicate 24/7. In this era, the barrier of time and space has been
broken by social media networking, and we can communicate with so many people than ever
before. Researchers have reported that our routine communication just 7% is verbal or written,
while rest of 93% is nonverbal body language (Susan). New threats and barriers have hatched, as
a result of this revolutionary social media.
Name 2
Facebook is Making us Lonely
Americans of 18-29 years old receive and send an average of 88 text messages and 17
calls per day. According to, 32% respondent of a mobility time poll, they communicate through
text rather than phone, with those whom they know quite well (Gibbs). A Facebook statistic of
March 2012 showed an average number of its daily active users are 526 million. Moreover, 1/3
of 13 years old population is connected through cell phones according to media industry fact
sheet report. All the powerful social media networking has potential to make people less
social. With the social technologies at our finger tips, in order to make people more
connected, has potentially disconnected them.
According to the claim of Marche, social media communication has become an essential
part of our lives. Every morning when we woke up the very first thing we do is to check our
phone for any notifications or messages, instead of going to wash room to brush teeth. In a
public transport, restaurant, and office or anywhere around, take a glance, you will hardly find
someone whose head is not down and busy with the phone. Even on dining table people remain
busy with phones, typing a text, tweet or a Facebook status. In an article, written by (Susan), a
mother and daughter was having a chat through text messages. Mother was asking the daughter
how everything is going on, to which the daughter was replying with, smiles, hearts and positive
emotion statements. That night, the daughter tried to suicide. Few days after, she was in severe
depression, crying and held up in her room. That was a completely different story conveyed
through her texts, Facebook or tweeter messages. This is where we are standing with all the
revolutionary technology of social networking.
Name 3
According to Bandura (265), social cognitive theory the direct communication system
influence human thought process and motivates, guide and inform the participants. The only real
and authentic way of communication, among human beings is face to face communication. Only
by looking into the eyes of someone or by hearing the voice of someone, we can judge that “I am
fine” actually means they are not fine at all. Email or text messages even send with similes and
positive statements lack emotions and can be misinterpreted. People can hide their feelings and
emotions behind the wall of over flooded technology. Communication is a corner stone for the
development of interpersonal relationships. One of the main hindrances, in developing successful
interpersonal relationship is the lack of effective communication in adults. Several areas of life
including family relations, socialization, performance and employment are potentially at risk,
because of the ineffective communication.
Marche’s (n.p.) claim is reasonable somehow that the lack of face to face communication
in young people leads to the failure of resolving conflicts. Hence jeopardize not only the safety
but also results in chronic violence including grabbing, threats and fighting (Wood, 115).
According to Keller (10) increase in online social media communication has decreased
interpersonal and face to face communication. Social media has harmful effect on privacy. Even
with extremely high privacy settings, social networks are searchable. There are always
possibilities to find out personal information from a social network site. Cyber bullying is
another negative side of social media networking. Cyber bullying, along with stalking and even
unwanted sexual harassment advances have victimized people destructively. The victims often
face guilt, depression and shame. They not only self harm them, but also dissociate them from
their near and dears (Mishna et al., 107-118).
Name 4
It is true that technology provides undisputable benefits such as cost and time
effectiveness. At the same time, it is need to recognize that human beings are created for
interpersonal communication. Online social media cannot duplicate a true interpersonal relation.
No doubt, it is an email that connects people form one part of the globe to the other. But, the
downside is it has weakened not only the trust, but also the bond that is evolved through face to
face or phone conversation. In the beginning, due excessive internet usage, being an extremely
convenient tool, we have lost the actual physical contact. With the awash in technology, in
addition to loosing the ability to interact, we are giving an impression to youth that with the
technology and internet access everything is possible. The gap in interpersonal communication
and interaction will reach to the point that on social level there will be no need of physical
contact.
There are different ways to make online communication real, in order to avoid all the
harmful impact of social media on inter personal relation. If, there is a conflict due to exchange
of an electronic message, to clear up misunderstandings pick up your phone have call or arrange
a face to face conversation. Being a citizen of global world we should take advantage and
benefits of all these technologies, but not at the cost and risk of important personal and
professional relations.
Name 5
Work Cited:
Bandura, Albert. “Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication”. Media Psychology. 3.3
(2001): 265-299.
Gibbs, Nancy. ‘‘Your life is Fully Mobile.’’ techland.time.com. 16th August, 2012. Web. 20
December, 2014.
Keller, Maura. “Social Media and Interpersonal Communication”. Social Work Today. 13.3
(2013): 10.
Mishna, Faye, McLukie, Alan, and Michael Saint. “Real-world dangers in an online reality: A
qualitative study examining online relationships and cyber abuse”. Social Work Research.
33.2 (2009): 107-118.
Marche, Stephen. ‘‘Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?’’ the Atlantic. Web (2012).
Susan, Tardanicon. ‘‘Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication?’’ Forbes.com. April,
2012. Web. 20 December, 2014.
Woody, Debra. “A comprehensive school-based conflict-resolution model”. Children & Schools.
23.2 (2001): 115-123.
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