Myths About Technology

The terrors of technology...we have all heard that one before. The constant communication services are making us isolated and so on and so on. There are always two sides to any story and of course here as well. Some would like to claim that smartphones have increased mindless stimulation. In some cases that may very well be true but it does not describe the whole of the population. Secondly, are social networks destroying real friendships and communication? In a study conducted in 2007, Drs. Peter and Valkenburg looked at 1210 students between the ages of 10 and 17, and found that those students who used online communication to talk with their friends had closer friendships and felt more personal and social satisfaction than students who did not. In 2011, Mariek Abeele and Keith Row found that texting, instant messaging, and emailing more frequently with friends was associated with a higher sense of belonging and a stronger overall social network. In 2012, Dr. Adriana Manago found that students who had more Facebook friends experienced higher levels of life satisfaction, perceived social support, and overall well-being. Any thoughts?