How Technology Has Changed Social Life
Friendship and Technology
Contents
Contents 2
Introduction 3
Social media platforms and change in friendships 3
Conclusion 8
References 9
Introduction Technology has become an integral part of human society in the era where information sees no geographical boundaries and there is exchange of information with the help of use of various technological and communication tools. The advent of digital media has helped people reach developmental milestones, such as fostering the sense of belongingness and sharing personal problems (Donath and Boyd). However, there are questions related to the worth and value of use of technology in proliferating relations, such as friendship. The thesis of the research is as follows: technology has made friendships shallower specifically in the context of advent of social media platforms.
Social media platforms and change in friendships Members in the social media network aim at creation of self-descriptive profiles, which include their links to other members or participants in the network, and display of social connections in the virtual world. In today’s information society, the access to information has become key element in showing status and power in communication. The social media websites, Facebook and Twitter can be referred to as products of this emerging culture. In the real world, people make connections through face-to-face meets and sending signals through their conversations. However, in the virtual world, there is no evidence or proof of the real identity of people. It is quite possible that connections are not real. There is usually little or no verification in the process of signing up to these websites. Thus, it is quite easy to create a false persona with the deceiver having a series of false profiles and then linking all these profiles with each other. Thus, it creates the illusion of having a large number of connections in the form of a large number of friends, which
Contents
Contents 2
Introduction 3
Social media platforms and change in friendships 3
Conclusion 8
References 9
Introduction Technology has become an integral part of human society in the era where information sees no geographical boundaries and there is exchange of information with the help of use of various technological and communication tools. The advent of digital media has helped people reach developmental milestones, such as fostering the sense of belongingness and sharing personal problems (Donath and Boyd). However, there are questions related to the worth and value of use of technology in proliferating relations, such as friendship. The thesis of the research is as follows: technology has made friendships shallower specifically in the context of advent of social media platforms.
Social media platforms and change in friendships Members in the social media network aim at creation of self-descriptive profiles, which include their links to other members or participants in the network, and display of social connections in the virtual world. In today’s information society, the access to information has become key element in showing status and power in communication. The social media websites, Facebook and Twitter can be referred to as products of this emerging culture. In the real world, people make connections through face-to-face meets and sending signals through their conversations. However, in the virtual world, there is no evidence or proof of the real identity of people. It is quite possible that connections are not real. There is usually little or no verification in the process of signing up to these websites. Thus, it is quite easy to create a false persona with the deceiver having a series of false profiles and then linking all these profiles with each other. Thus, it creates the illusion of having a large number of connections in the form of a large number of friends, which
References: Donath, J and D Boyd. "Public displays of connection." BT Technology Journal 22.4 (2004). Mazman, S Guzin and Yasemin K Usluel. "Gender Differences in Social Networks." The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology 10.2 (2011). Mesch, Gustavo S and Ilad Talmud. "Online Friendship Formation, Communication Channels, and Social Closeness." International Journal of Internet Science 1.1 (2006): 29-44. Rosen, Christine. "Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism." The New Atlantis 15 (2007). Thomas, Laurence. Friendship in the Shadow of Technology. 2013. 11 November 2013 .