So this week’s reading is about the effects of Internet on human relationships. What’s the big worry about it? Well, apparently there’s been several debates whether the Internet is harming or helping people’s relationships with other people. Some people, James E. Katz and Philip Aspden, believe that the Internet actually helps people form and maintain \u00a0relationships with other people. They supported their claim of Internet helping create relationships with research they had done themselves on a group of randomly selected people. They found that majority of Internet users had more friends than non-Internet users and the users also joined more leisure organizations. On the other hand, non-users are more prone to participate in community organizations than users. Which leads us to Robert Kraut, a sociology professor, who believed that the Internet is detrimental to people. He claims that users are isolating themselves from (real) people and that their time spent on the computer\/laptop reduces the number and quality of interpersonal relationships they have. For example, the time that users could spend with the family doing recreational activities is replaced by Internet programs\/games\/etc.<\/p>\n
Both of these researchers have good points on the matter, but which one is right? You decide.<\/p>\n
Reflection:<\/p>\n
Personally, I don’t disagree with any of the researchers, it’s true that the Internet makes it efficient for people to make friends. But, the Internet also damages relationships already made before the Internet. Think about it, when you go online you can meet hundreds of new people everyday and build a relationship with them. It’s easy and you don’t have to meet them face-to-face and you can contact them anytime. However, online you don’t know the “real” person on the other end because online anyone can create the image they want other people to see. Sometimes what the person on the other end isn’t what you would expect and that just sucks. Actually it’s disappointing!<\/p>\n
Okay, no more whining let’s continue with the pros and cons of Internet usage. Starting off with the cons, it’s true that the relationship you built with family and friends through face-to-face contact weakens\/diminishes. The reason is because you neglect them and spend most of your time talking to your “cyber” friends or doing activities on the Web. But, that doesn’t pertain to everyone, some users find the Internet helpful when contacting faraway relatives for a family get together or planning a\u00a0rendezvous with a significant other “wink wink.”<\/p>\n
——————————————————————————————- Bottom line is think what you like about the Internet, it is what it is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So this week’s reading is about the effects of Internet on human relationships. What’s the big worry about it? Well, apparently there’s been several debates whether the Internet is harming or helping people’s relationships with other people. Some people, James … Continue reading