Social Media Is Killing Us!
Rajanee’ Hedgepeth
Mr. Healey
English 1210-08
25 April 2014
Social Media is killing Brains!
Are you able to easily communicate online with a person? Does it seem second nature for you to mention somebody but all you can do is walk past them in person? If yes, then it seems that social media is causing you to lack social skills. Interpersonal skills used to be necessary to learn or have are no longer needed as a result of social media. Social media is causing the younger generation to lack skills that were needed in earlier days and are causing them to no longer know how to hold a short and simple conversation in person. According to a study conducted by a student at Elon University (Courtney Turnball) social media had impacted each generation differently. The study finds there is an increase in the quantity of interpersonal communication due to the ease of getting in touch via the Internet, but this increase comes at the cost of quality. Turnbull states that this is the result of text messaging and email. By using short, ambiguous messages Generation Y is missing out on quality conversation. Even the oldest generations are learning to text instead of call and use social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and etc. Both generations (baby boomers and generation y) agreed that video chat programs such as Skype, Oovoo, and Facetime offered you the “best of both worlds.” Not only could you see the person but you could hold an actual conversation with them and not through text messages or chat line. Most people today prefer meeting over the internet instead of in person for the first time. Social media is the beginning of many new relationships and friendships. People nowadays lack the common knowledge of making a friend in person.
Social media isn’t always a negative. There are always positive sides. One positive thing about social media is that shy or timid teens such as myself can meet new people without actually having to face them. They are able to
Mr. Healey
English 1210-08
25 April 2014
Social Media is killing Brains!
Are you able to easily communicate online with a person? Does it seem second nature for you to mention somebody but all you can do is walk past them in person? If yes, then it seems that social media is causing you to lack social skills. Interpersonal skills used to be necessary to learn or have are no longer needed as a result of social media. Social media is causing the younger generation to lack skills that were needed in earlier days and are causing them to no longer know how to hold a short and simple conversation in person. According to a study conducted by a student at Elon University (Courtney Turnball) social media had impacted each generation differently. The study finds there is an increase in the quantity of interpersonal communication due to the ease of getting in touch via the Internet, but this increase comes at the cost of quality. Turnbull states that this is the result of text messaging and email. By using short, ambiguous messages Generation Y is missing out on quality conversation. Even the oldest generations are learning to text instead of call and use social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and etc. Both generations (baby boomers and generation y) agreed that video chat programs such as Skype, Oovoo, and Facetime offered you the “best of both worlds.” Not only could you see the person but you could hold an actual conversation with them and not through text messages or chat line. Most people today prefer meeting over the internet instead of in person for the first time. Social media is the beginning of many new relationships and friendships. People nowadays lack the common knowledge of making a friend in person.
Social media isn’t always a negative. There are always positive sides. One positive thing about social media is that shy or timid teens such as myself can meet new people without actually having to face them. They are able to