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Morgan Johnston
Dr. Angelo Costanzo
English 101
February 28, 2013
Depending on how you view technology and communication, you may believe
technology effects communication in a positive or negative manner. Which generation you are
a part of will affect your position on this debate greatly. Both sides of the debate must agree
that technology has significantly influenced communication and interaction between people
compared its previous generations in one way or another.
Looking at one side of the argument, technology has been an enormous advantage to
the field of communication. Communication is now much cheaper, simpler and faster than in
past generations. Communicating with large numbers of people at one time is now much easier
than in the past as well. It is now much quicker communicating between distances than ever
before. One can now communicate with an individual or group on a different continent within
seconds of sending their message; whereas before an individual would have to travel to a place
to communicate with a person or wait until a letter reached them. After the letter reached the
intended person, the person would have to wait for a reply, which could take many weeks.
Having technology processes, letter writing has almost diminished; worldwide communication
and social networks are now prevailing over all other forms of communication.
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Social networks are a major part in this worldwide technological spread. Social media is
spreading at a very rapid rate with no signs of slowing down. Social media has brought
communication via the World Wide Web to a whole new level. You can now communicate with
essentially anyone, at any given time. Keeping in touch with friends and family is now as easy as
a click of a button. Having access to social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram can make talking, emailing, and sharing photos so enjoyable and effortless.
Cell phones are another impressive technological advance. Cell phones make calling or
contacting a person very straightforward. Similar to the home phone, when cell phones first
came on the market, their primary use was calling. Using a cell phone you can now call, text,
access the internet, download apps, play games, take pictures, record videos, use email,
download music, and carry out many other tasks. A cell phone can now do just about any task a
computer does, if not more. Cell phone technology keeps improving and shows no signs of
slowing down.
All of the previously listed items seem like positive attributions to society. On the other
side of this argument, all of these things could be viewed in a negative light as well. Social
media and cell phones have entirely changed the way people communicate. People heavily rely
on electronic communication rather than face to face communication. Bullying has risen
because of these electronic means of communication (Ross). Having other means of
communication other than face to face communication, people now have something to hide
behind when making malicious comments towards others (Ross). All of the improvements in
technology also have negatively affected our generation’s social skills (Manke). Children and
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growing adults from this generation rely so heavily on their phones and social media websites
that they have lost touch with their social skills (Manke). Children and emerging adults of this
generation would often times choose interacting on their phones, playing video games, or using
some sort of technology instead of actually interacting with people in person. People emerging
from this generation also have bad grammar and below average formal writing skills compared
to generations in the past (Rankin). This is profoundly because people of this time are used to
texting and writing on social media sites that they are unsure of how to do tasks like write
formal papers (Rankin). People coming out of this generation are lacking when it comes to
formal writing and formal language (Rankin).
Depending on which generation you ask, they will have different feelings towards these
technological advances. I have interviewed two individuals, each from generations other than
my own. Their views on technology are very different than mine; but there are some
similarities. I interviewed my grandfather on one side of the family and my grandma on the
other side of the family. Although they are from generations very close to each other, even
their opinions differed greatly.
My grandfather had very strong opinions on this subject. He was not only against most
technological advances I mentioned but he was also very clueless
and uneducated on most technology that I brought up. Much like
the following picture, my grandfather and technology do not
mix.
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My grandfather did not believe that most technological advances were necessary for
everyday life. He believes that if he could live most of his life without these things, he does not
need them now. My grandfather recently received a cell phone as a gift. He does not
understand its capabilities and barely knows how to place a call. He was not accurate on his
interpretation of Facebook and was completely unaware that Twitter and Instagram existed.
My grandfather strongly believes that children of this time are not social beings as before and
need to be taught how to stop the ‘technology addiction’ they are developing. He strongly
believes that the rising obesity rates are due to the increase in technology and the decrease in
physical activity. Needless to say, my grandfather thinks that technology is negatively
influencing communication and this generation as a whole.
The next person I interviewed in relation to technology and communication was my
grandmother on the other side of the family. Although both of grandparents are very close in
age, my Grandmother had a very different standpoint on this technology and communication
disagreement. My Grandmother believes that all of the new technology advancements are
improving means of communication. Unlike my grandfather, my grandmother has Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter and an iPhone. Not only does my grandmother have all of this technology,
she actively uses all the sites. My grandma gets on all of the social media sites multiple times a
day- uploading statuses, writing on peoples walls, and posting comments. My grandma
frequently texts me as well, which is very different from my grandfather who does not know
how to text at all. My grandma is actually very tech savvy. My grandma frequently sends me
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videos; these videos are edited and very well put together. She takes these videos from her
iPhone. This is just one of the many impressive things that she can do technologically. When I
asked my grandmother if she thinks technology is negatively effecting communication, she
replied with a very different answer than that of others from that generation. She said that she
believes technology is having the opposite effect actually. My grandmother said technology of
this day is so impressive compared to when she was a child. She stated that we are so lucky to
be growing up with such remarkable technology; and the technology we have right now is going
to take us to a whole new level of greatness in our future.
I believe that technology is extraordinary but we have to place limits on this technology.
The technology we have right now is incredible but used in the wrong manner could be
detrimental to our communication and social skills. I found it very interesting that interviewing
people so close in age, had such differing opinions on the subject. From doing these interviews I
found that some people are just not accustomed to this new technology and will never fully
adapt to it. I also found that everyone has very conflicting ideas when relating to this topic.
Although people have very conflicting ideas on the subject, I believe that no one is fully correct
or incorrect. Each person has very different ideas but they also have key ideas that are very
accurate. Technology is inevitable but how you use that technology and how you choose to
manage your communication in regards to technology is all up to you.
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Works Cited
Johnston, Deborah. Telephone Interview. February 27, 2013.
Manke, Emily. “5 SOCIAL SKILLS TECHNOLOGY IS DESTROYING.” Come Recommended.
(N.P) (N.D) Web. March 1, 2013.
Old man with Cell phone. Photo. (N.P) (N.D) Web. March 1, 2013.
Ross, Margret. "Cyber Bullying Articles & Facts." The Kamaron Institute. Kamaron
Institute, (N.D) Web. March 1, 2013.
Russell, Richard. Telephone Interview. February 27, 2013.
Sherry L. Rankin. “The impact of text messaging language shortcuts on developmental
students' formal writing skills.” Udini. (N.P) (N.D) Web. March 1, 2013.