Effects Of Communication Technology On Human Relationships

The appearance and improvement of communication technologies have created a new platform for interaction, shifting the face-to -face communication to cyber-world.According to the researches in 2013, over 80% UK adults use the internet while 73% of them are online every day (Deane, Mieczakowski, Johnson, Goldhaber& Clarkson, 2016 ). The above statistics showed the pervasiveness of communication technologies, for instance, WhatsApp and Instagram, they are all performing an essential role in our daily life. Thanks to these inventions, people can easily keep in touch with others around the world (Deane, Mieczakowski, Johnson,Goldhaber & Clarkson), which break the restriction of distance and time.

While a majority of people are appreciating the benefits of communication technologies, minority opposite arguments do persist, concerning that they are actually the obstructions of communication and relationship. The framework for essay is built around the controversy over communication technologies, then follow by an argument that they are more likely as a blessing on human attachment.

Researchers do believe that the advent of electronic communication make communication more accessible by breaking the distinct and time constraints, especially long-distance communication. With the popularity of intelligent technology, it is possible to contact everyone over the world at once, which brings people closer together and build a global community. Nonetheless, some scholars argue that these technologies may divert people attention away from face-to face conservation which cause a negative impact on interpersonal relationship.Gaser (2012) gave an example of a pair of dating couple keep checking text or voice messages during their meal without focus on their partner,thereby, the face-to face conservation is ruined.

Admittedly, the quality of direct communication will be affected if people only focus on their electronic advances instead of the person who are now speaking in front of them. However, the existence of the communication technology is not the cause of impact, but the way to use it. If people ignore their cell phones and concentrate on what others say, the above concern can be completely erased. On the affirmative side, these technologies improve the human relationship by smashing all the contact barriers and facilitates mass communication by sending message in a WhatsApp group. Organizations like school or company always inform their student and staff through e-mail or message, which save time and make the process more smoothly. Communication technology is also an accessible platform for group discussion, which allow everyone to involve in it even they are not in the same area or even in different country.

Parental relationship can be enhanced by using communication technologies, especially among adolescent family. College students with more supportive and emotionally close relationship with their parent talk on phone frequently (Gentzier, Oberhauser, Westerman& Nadorff,2011). Some are sceptical about reduction of time teenagers spend with their family and affect their relationship in long run due to these techology. In fact, there is a common pheromone that teenagers are more likely to chat with friends and expand their social life because they start interested in peer approval during puberty. Conversely, the communication technology do connect young people with parent while fitting the correct level of closeness. Parent feels like they had things in common with adolescent which can create common topics between them( Older people, technology and community,2018). Hence, communications technique is fertilizer of parental relationship.

The communication technologies enhance social connection and human relationship; thus, people feel less loneliness. Most of the elderly are suffering from social isolation and disconnecting with friends or family (older people, technology and community,2018, Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association, London) which can easily lead to elderly depression. They feel like they have been detached by the society and trapped at home after retirement,while the use of technological communication within a close relationship, can decrease feelings of loneliness (Gentzier, Oberhauser, Westerman& Nadorff,2011, Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking ).With the appearance of technological communication, the older people can connect with their children or friends daily, knowing that they are neither abandoned nor isolated.

Despite of the aged people, teenagers suffering social problem can also seek for cyber-companionship. Nie& Erbring (2002) claimed that ‘the more time people spend using the Internet, the more they lose contact with their social environment.’ Nevertheless, it is doubt that if this statement is timely, since it was 17 years ago, before mobile phone has been popularized. Seldom people were using electronic communication, it is difficult to link with friend through online at that time. Everyone owns a cell phone and goes online constantly in these 21 centuries, there is no difficulty in contacting other through phone. Regardless of the above statement, one fact is eminently clear. The invention of technological devices breaks the time and distance barriers of interaction, forming an online global village. Everyone in this village is able to interact others from different countries at once and expand his/her social network. Consequently, A bond was forged and the distance between people was shorten, the human connection was then enhanced as a result.

Undeniably, communication techniques has become one of the essential part of daily live due to the rapid development in the recent years. There are teenagers addict to social media chatting with online friends then neglect their social connection in real live. Actually, everything will lead to negative result if overuse, so the more important is the way to use it. Despite of the addiction, electronic technology link people closer together and make communication accessible. Therefore, they are blessing of human relationship in a large extend.