Negative impact of social media on communication

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Abstract
Social networking refers to online social networks which allow an individual to create a profile containing detailed information about their identity, showing whom they are connected to and connections with other users sharing the same social site. Individuals have different reasons as why they join various social networks. Connecting to a large extended network, gaining access to jobs and socializing with geographical distant friends are some of the major reasons why such sitesare more importantly located. These connections have greatly increased in number over the last two decades, beginning with message boards then emails and instant messaging, and now social networking sites such as Facebook have emerged. With these new features available on phones and computers, people commit most of their time interacting online. The type of communication that occurs between individuals is decreasing making that connection between people who feel each others explicit or implicit emotions non-existence as they use most of their time in social media than indulging in one-on-one communication.
Negative impact of social media on communication
Despite the advantages of social networking, this paper focuses on the negative impact caused by online social networks. The ability to establish a relationship in life is critical; this aspect of life can only be met if one has the ability of self-expression. Massive usage of social media has resulted in inadequate social skills among individuals, and it is for this reason that most people find it difficult to connect since they lack the essential skill to self-expression. Social skills refer to communication, decision-making, self-management and problem-solving abilities and peer relationship abilities that allow and individual to initiate, build and maintain positive social relationship with others. It is with no doubt that living in the advanced world has changed the way we live, work and interact, with e-mail and messaging replacing letters and how we use and dispense information.
In spite of all this connectivity, social skills might be suffering. New technologies especially social networking sites may be sharpening some new thinking skills but undermining others. Face-to-face social skills are top list to some of the side effects of social networking. These skills are fading away since people have barred their thoughts in social networking sites than spending time to indulge in face-to-face interactions. Reading facial expressions during conversations and grasping the emotional content of a certain context of subtle gestures are some of the skills that individuals tend to lose as the use of social networking is increasing (Horstman and Judith; pg. 57, 2010).
Social skills
The skill one should have along with others is fundamentally social power. During interactions, we initiate this power without knowing. Some of these skills are smiling and making eye contact, skills we use in negotiation situations and many more. Social networking is killing these social skills especially face-to-face communication. The following are some of the social skills affected by online social networking; the ability to start conversations, fundamental interactions among people. It is becoming difficult to build and maintain relationships, people are lacking basic knowledge on empathy and finally individuals lack the skill of dealing with conflict. These skills are the most aspect lost in an individual due to usage of online social networking sites (Bellack, A & Hersen, M. 1979)
Primary interactions
These are skills involved in conversing and interacting with people on a daily basis. The skills are essential in human life, and these skills help in shaping humanity behavior. Minus these skills, human beings serve no purpose to one another. Making frequent eye contact, showing interest to others by asking how their day was, showing confident body language, smiling when greeting people and talking and finally making regular eye contact are some of the basic interaction skills that social networking is limiting individuals today. Urbanization and modernization are causing harm to tradition pattern of social life. Social networking has limitations to emotional attachments. It is the interactions skills which carry this ingredient called emotional attachment. People want to be touched and sometimes hugged by their beloved ones but not texting day-in day-out on the social networking sites. This frequent communication through technology result individuals no developing basic communication skills that human beings have been using. Texting rather that having conversations has lead to individuals living in sound bites, and that is not developing our emotional intelligence.
Social networking has encouraged people to remain in their homes and away from other persons, and individuals will continue to hide from real life. It has resulted to loss of physicality and discouragement to face-to-face communication among the human race. Computer-mediated communication is not a legitimate way of socializing. It is not that necessary interaction skills can not be expressed in written form; it is the matter of eye contact, facial expressions, vocalization, body language and hugs that would be sorely missing. The arrival of online social networks has changed the social platform by creating a new level of social structure while the long term impact remains to be determined (Gupta, et al, pg. 248, 2009).
Making of conversations
These are the skills individuals use when sharing with one another. They include; use of humor to make conversations interesting and alive, nodding and smiling to indicate following along, small talk, listening and showing interest in what the other people have to say and taking turns during conversations. As people dedicate their precious time interacting in online social networks, the quality of their offline networks and relationships diminishes. It demonstrates that nothing can replace a good old fashioned in-persons conversations. Hiding behind our screens cannot build truly meaningful and sustaining genuine relationships. Time spent online by individuals not only discourages face-to-face communication, but it also reduces our confidence in engaging in real conversations with the people around us. Online social networks cannot provide an individual with what they are missing in real life conversations nor can it ever replace a real one.
Social media can nurture cowardice. It gives an individual false courage to say things online which...