Running head: INTERNET USE AND SOCAL INTERACTION
How has the Internet developed and influenced social interactions?
Nevada Bennett
Concordia University Chicago
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INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 2
What would we do without the Internet and other forms of technology today? Many lives simply revolve around the Internet and needing instant access to virtually any type of knowledge or text a friend; opportunities are limitless because of the Internet. It allows you to check emails at work, look up times for the movies, communicate with a friend studying abroad, etc.. These examples highlight the importance of the Internet. There is not the most clear timeline of the origins of the Internet, however, understanding the known history is very important in understanding how we have advanced to the uses we have today. The internet is used with different forms of technology including desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and the list goes on. College students’ attitudes towards the use of the internet via smartphones will be discussed in relationship with the high rate of usage among the population. Social networking and virtual communities used to connect with others will be discussed. The benefits as well as the negative consequences of internet use will be explained. The internet has drastically developed and has influenced society’s way of socially interacting.
HISTORY OF THE INTERNET
The Internet is known to have begun as early as 1969. According to Florida Center for IT College of Education, “the Internet began in 1969 as the U.S Department of
Defense’s Advanced Research Project Agency to provide immediate communication within the Department in case of war. Computers were then installed at U.S. Universities with defense related projects” (2009: para 3). The term ARPAnet was developed from
Advanced Research Project Agency. Other networks then became added to the networks and scientific organizations used this network. An introduction of the Internet for consumer use was discussed by various communities including ARPA, who believed that

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 3 that it should be a variety of networks in order to communicate (Campbell &Daniel,
2013).The desktop computers arrived in the 1980s for personal use and was seen as a funnel for the Internet’s architecture (Campbell &Daniel, 2013). These events lead up to the internet and the networks that we now use today.
Networks allow us to be able to connect various devices together. According to FITC,
“the internet acts as a pipeline to transport electronic messages from one network another network. At the heart of most networks is a server, a fast computer with large amounts of memory and storage space. The network controls the communication of information between the devices attached to network, such as computers, printers, or the servers
(2009,para 4). More recent additions would include smartphones and tablets. In order to access the Internet there is a need for a server. The most popular companies that serve as servers include, AT&T and Comcast. With the networks and servers, you are given access to the World Wide Web.
The World Wide Web now seems to be more of an older term. Many refer to using the computer online as the Internet. The Internet, however, is only the systems, networks, and protocols (FITC, 2009). The World Wide Web refers to the web pages that are available online. Think about it this way, when your Internet is down that does not mean that the web pages are not operating, but the systems to get to them are not. TCP/ IP protocols, Domain Name System, and URLs make up the World Wide Web. “The two most important protocols allowing computers to transmit data on the Internet ate
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP)” (FITC, 2009). Without these we would not be able to communicate with others who did not have identical systems and devices. The Domain Name System is also known as IP addresses. IP

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 4 addresses are composed of a four sets of numbers separated by periods. The Domain
Name System allows those codes of numbers to be translated into letters and words.
These components allow us to explore some of our favorite websites.
SMARTPHONES TO ACCESS THE INTERNET
People are able to visit websites on a variety of devices. Computers and smartphones tend to be the most popular devices that are used to communicate with others. While computers have been around for some time, there is now a continued rise of smartphones.
Many consumers now own smart phones because of the accessibility of them.
Smartphones are seen as the next generation cell phones and have multifunctions (Sheng,
Ni, 2006). According to Zheng & Ni, “you might consider the smart phone as the marriage between a powerful cell phone in a wireless-enabled key PDA” (p.1). With the popular rise of smartphones in 2005, there was a need for more personalized devices so that they could be used on the go to communicate with others (Sheng, Ni, 2006). With the growth of smartphones it gave companies opportunities to make software and other programs to benefit smartphones and enhanced networking. Smartphones are able to play music and act as a digital camera (Sheng, Ni, 2006). Smartphones also provide Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth in order to be able to connect to different networks and systems. Wi-Fi is important and it allows you to connect your phone to the Internet virtually everywhere and use apps.
Using downloaded apps have become essential to everyday communication. Social network apps in particular are frequently used by millions of people every day. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are a few top of the most popular social media sites that I visited. This allows you to send messages and pictures to

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 5 friends and family instantly (Sheng, Ni, 2006). You're also able to communicate with people who you may have never met face to face. There are also local search apps that let you communicate and learn new knowledge (Sheng, Ni, 2006). There are apps such as
YELP that allow you to communicate with people who may have visited a restaurant that you like to try. Google is the top search engine that is used on the Internet today. Google allows you access to an array of knowledge, companies, communities, as well as advertising (Sheng, Ni, 2006). You are able to display this information easily now with a cell phone. There is no limit of communication and social interaction because of these websites and the apps that have been created. Smartphones helped to unleash the popularity of apps.
Smartphone users are now using apps instead of actually accessing the websites through the web browsers provided on the phone (Xu, Erman Gerber, 2011). The most popular smartphone operating systems are IOS, Android, and Windows. The IOS
Appstore used by iPhone users have over 350,000 apps and there have been over 10 billion downloads on the Appstore (Xu, Erman Gerber, 2011). There is much more variety and diversity in the type of apps that you can download for your phone (Xu,
Erman Gerber, 2011). There is a certain population that tends to purchase smartphones and use applications the most, college students.
COLLEGE STUDENT’S ATTITUDES TOWARDS CELL PHONES
College students are frequently seen with cell phones in their hands. A study was conducted to determine the purposes of using cell phones among college students. Some of the findings were that it made them feel safe, there are financial benefits, it helped with time management, and to communicate with others whether they are classmates, family,

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 6 or friends (Aoki &Downes, 2003). A person's time in college is seen at their time of them of ample social interactions. Cell phones are a way for information access especially among college students. Storing phone numbers in your contacts is important in order to stay in contact with others. In this particular study, the participants mentioned that they do not get their cell phones solely for the purpose of social interaction (Aoki &Downes,
2003). However, over time it seemed that their phone became a part of their lives. The phone basically allows them to stay in touch with everyone. There was an interview conducted to hear the thoughts of the college students about their cell phone use.
The study was conducted with 32 college student participants. A participant named
Lynn stated “the original reason I got a phone was for use in the car… if I got into an accident or something it would bear. And now it's more like, I'm bored, and I'm walking home and I want to call someone. Or, I all of a sudden realize that I need my mom to send me something...so call her whenever I am” (Aoki &Downes, 2003, p.355). One participant felt that the phone was a leash as if she couldn't get away from it (Aoki
&Downes, 2003). Some participants explained that it was as if you have to pick up the phone (Aoki &Downes, 2003). While it is great to have the easy accessibility of being able to call up someone alone with it comes obligation. If someone knows you have a phone and they call they figure that you will pick up. The participant Anna, explained,
“yeah, it's a pain in the butt. Because before you have a cell phone you can have excuses to get away from people. You could say, “Oh I wasn’t home” or whatever. And now, they know that you're ignoring them because you have that voicemail. And if they get forwarded straight to voicemail, they know that you are denied to call and they're not happy” (Aoki &Downes, 2003, p.355). Many of the participants believed that was no way

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 7 to get away from it because it was always there and there is a dependency issue.
There is a dependency issue of cell phones and smart phones that are among not only college students but the rest of the population also. A phone is attached to you and it becomes a part of your life. If you do not have your phone it's like you're lost and without communication. It is reported that people take their phones everywhere. If you don't have your phone you don't know the numbers to call family members. You can’t check any sort of messages whether voicemail, e-mail, text messages (Aoki &Downes, 2003). It is as if you're out of contact with the world. We have to know this is not the case because life went on before there were cell phones and this instant communication. A cell phone is many times your contact with the world in between all of the tasks and duties that you have throughout the day. Because you're not able to see everyone that you know frequently throughout the week it is just a way of communicating (Aoki &Downes,
2003).
A college student explained her experience when she had her phone disconnected
(Aoki &Downes, 2003). A participant explained that it was as if she had lost a limb. She felt that she had become a slave to a device (Aoki &Downes, 2003). She eventually got accustomed to not having a cell phone but after some time she had the need for the phone to communicate. She explained that she felt whole again (Aoki &Downes, 2003). This example showed how important a cell phone can be to someone because you become accustomed to them. With anything that you become accustomed to in life when it’s absent you feel a change. It was explained that having a cell phone also had a positive effect on your image.
Your possessions in a way show the status that you have two other, including cell

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 8 phones. College students have reported that they got a phone because they were the only person out there who didn't have and they don't want to feel left out or everything online
(Aoki &Downes, 2003). Having a cell phone displays to others how social you are.
Interesting enough, with the apps that are out now for social networking, you also have to display a certain image to others. The way that you are communicating with others is being viewed by usually hundreds of people. There can be some negative connotations with the cost of communication especially out in public (Aoki &Downes, 2003). Being able to communicate so easily can sometimes be an inconvenience for others (Aoki
&Downes, 2003). You are able to make a phone call while you are out or maybe a video to a friend and you watching it can be a little obnoxious to others around (Aoki &Downes,
2003). A student explained that sometimes when you overhear other people's conversations it feels like you are eavesdropping (Aoki &Downes, 2003). She recalled a time where she walked in on a girl brushing her teeth in the bathroom while she was also talking on the phone. (Aoki &Downes, 2003). Some things maybe could wait and there may be some oversharing. Social networks can sometimes be a catalyst to this oversharing but also be beneficial.
SOCIAL NETWORKING TO COMMUNICATE
Social networks such as Facebook allow you to be able to establish and maintain relationships via the Internet. Social networks are used up at him and in order to stay connected on the basis of work, forming romantic relationships, connecting with others who may have similar interests as you, or simply connecting those of similar backgrounds or age groups together(Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007). They can be used to communicate with people that you know or as a way to be introduced to new people. On

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 9 these social networking sites you're able to add friend in order to keep in touch with their daily activities and thoughts (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007). You are able to send messages and tag people in articles, current events, and videos. Users can create groups based on a collective interest, which introduce other users from across the world. For example, a group of people who enjoy a similar band can form a group relate and communicate with each other both publicly and privately. It has been reported that users spend at least 20 minutes a day on the site (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007). Research suggests that “there is a positive relationship between certain kinds of Facebook use in the maintenance and creation of social capital” (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe,
2007,p.1161).
Social capital is the resources gathered from your relationship that you have with people, the benefits. The benefits of Facebook are that you're able to keep in touch with former friends and being able to maintain relationships. You're able to find former classmates or coworkers because you can provide information about yourself on your page to identify yourself. When experiencing bonding social capital it is associated with having high self-esteem and being more active on Facebook overall (Ellison, Steinfield &
Lampe, 2007). However, everybody does not experience bonding social capital but more so bridging social capital (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007). Bridging social capital is the ability to create ties with others. So research suggests that people are creating all of these new bonds without necessarily fully bonding with the ones that I already had
(Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007). Research shows that just because you engage in online interactions rather frequently or infrequently it does not completely remove you or distance you from your off-line interaction (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007). It can

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 10 actually help support your relationship even in circumstances that could distance you and actually it can be used by a variety of people including professionals, students, organizations, and online groups and communities (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe, 2007).
However, too much use of online social interaction can have a negative effect on your psychosocial well-being.
Excessive use of anything can be detrimental. Excessive use of the Internet as a way of socially interacting especially at home usually leaves a person in a stationary position for many hours and limits your real interactions with people in your life. Loneliness can also be a contributor to socialization online over in person socialization and can contribute to distress (Caplan, 2003). Lonely people will often find comfort in online interactions and socialization because of the lack of in person communication (Caplan,
2003). While it was previously believed that that predominantly social interaction could lead to depression and data suggest that this is not the case (Caplan, 2003). However, research suggests that having the preference of online social interaction can lead to the development of negative consequences with Internet use (Caplan, 2003). It however is no causation just potential relationships between the two. Online social interactions can have negative effects but can also have positive effects. There are other social networking sites that are not necessarily designed to fully immerse you in other peoples’ lives. We are able to share different forms of media and post in various ways interact online. You are able to share so much and be engaged with Facebook with the help of other networking sites, such as YouTube.
YouTube is a video sharing site that allows you to create video and post them on your channel to share with others. On YouTube you just can subscribe to YouTubers and view

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 11 videos that are of interest to you. On YouTube you're able to create social relationships and use it as a way to display your experiences through video. There is a comment section that allows you to type any message and interact with others who leave comments as well (Lange, 2007). There are YouTubers who vlog and virtually share their life with millions of people. Similar YouTubers have been able to connect with others who live around them or that share similar interests of video content. YouTube is particularly popular among teens and young adults (Lange, 2007). Therefore, the act of sharing videos can contribute to bonding with those you share with (Lange, 2007). The content is sometimes the most important thing about YouTube and the purpose it serves of sharing it
(Lange, 2007).
Creating and sharing videos are as important to maintaining a relationship with people you no longer have physical contact with or to introduce yourself to new friends or acquaintances. According to Lange, “people who do not regularly participate on
YouTube may not understand why people watch seemingly poor quality or odd videos on the site. Yet those ideals may serve important social functions, and their utility is not necessarily judged by technical criteria” (2007, p.363). YouTube is also responsible for being a gateway to circulate viral videos, we get a lot of people talking among one another and sharing on various social networking sites. There is also a YouTube app so that the videos can be shared instantly with a click of a button and sent as a text message.
The videos are used as a way of filling the connection and being open to interacting. In the study conducted by Lange, he discovers different ways that people utilized YouTube
(Lange, 2007). For example, an aunt decides to upload videos to be viewed and in exchange comments can be posted and video responses can be sent in order to keep in

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 12 contact with relatives after they moved (Lange, 2007). This can help maintain family ties.
Sharing videos with family seems to be a way of privately using YouTube so it can be private and have a more intimate conversation without worrying about tons of people viewing it.
You are able to make videos on YouTube private or public to have control over who views the video. According to Lange, “creating and circulating video affectively enact social relationships between those who make and those who view the video” (2008, p.368). YouTube is simply a convenient way he will to upload videos quickly and that can be retrieved across the world (Lange, 2007). However, with YouTubers who have a larger following of friends is often in difficult to be able to engage in conversation and interact because of the large amount of people (Lange, 2007). This is similar to reality very popular people are not easy to get into communication with whether you have the same interests or not. Nonetheless, it is still a great way of having social interactions easily accessible website. YouTube can serve as virtual reality.
VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES
Virtual communities are virtual words that allow users to create an avatar to act as the character that represents them online to others. The virtual worlds allow you to experience things that you have never been able to before (Elliot, 2014). In The Lost
Virtual World ,”the art of the possible in terms of how it allows you to go beyond what you can do in the world with people that you might otherwise not meet” (Elliot, 2014).
People all over the world who have Internet accessibility can therefore login to these sites, someone in Europe can speak with someone who lives in Asia. There are few limitations to who you cannot reach through these worlds. There has been an increase in the

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 13 popularity of these virtual worlds among users.
A popular virtual world is a site named Second Life. Through this website, members are able to create relationships and interact with other members and chat with them. In
Life 2.0 there were two people who met through Second Life and pursued a relationship.
As time went on of communicating online, they eventually met and had a similar connection in person as they did online (Spingam-Koff, 2011). The virtual world has over
20 million members (Spingam-Koff, 2011). With certain accessories used with Second
Life, it can make you feel as if you are face to face with others around you. The downfall of this is that you cannot be too sure of who is behind the avatars that you are interacting with. With other networks a profile picture is provided that acts a way of proving your identity. However, regardless there is still a person behind the avatar and their personality and interests are being shared and displayed through socializing and the activities that you participate in (Spingam-Koff, 2011). There have been instances where virtual reality has interfered with actual life and members become obsessed with the site. Daily activities are being ignored because they are so consumed with their virtual life and friends. Despite those setbacks, users are able to have some positives experiences and interactions among one another with non- excessive use.
In conclusion, these points highlight how the Internet has developed from ARPAnet to what it is known today and the influence it has had on social interactions. It has expanded the uses of cell phones, in which we have instant access to others via the
Internet connected to phones in order to use apps. The college student population has a rather strong connection to their cell phones in particular. Social networks allow people to stay connected to those they already know as well as connect with new people. As a result

INTERNET USES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION 14 of the advancement of the internet and technology, there has been the creation of virtual social communities. There needs to be more research about the use and importance of apps on smartphones because the research is limited. Also, there are many more recent social networking apps and sites that have been created such as Instagram and Snapchat and there have been few studies conducted around these topics. The Internet and its uses have definitely advanced and will continue to do so as the years go on.

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