Some people say that instead of seeing the Internet as a way of opening up new communication possibilities world-wide, we should be concerned about the effect this is having on social interaction. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view

Over recent years, technology has infiltrated deeply into everyday life and concerns were raised as to whether internet affects social interaction negatively or not. I strongly agree with this opinion because I believe it is a sword that’s double-edged. Although internet and social media have multiple advantages. Firstly, they have facilitated communication greatly and eased multiple services like education, banking, and shopping. For instance, if the pandemic of COVID-19 happened much before these recent times, it would be safe to say that tele-teaching would have been a wild and a pure form of fantasy. Also, internet and social media platforms have made the idea of being one call away from your loved ones seems extremely applicable. On the other hand, internet has some serious drawbacks that should not be overlooked. Spending countless hours browsing digital content can only bring with it anxiety and lowers one’s self-esteem. And this is especially true for kids and young teens as many parents worry that exposure to internet and technology might affect their toddlers and teens developmentally. Certainly, speaking indirectly creates a barrier to clear communication. It is believed that learning how to make friends is a major part of growing up. Similarly, maintaining friendships and relationships requires a certain level of honesty and courage especially when there are problems that need to be faced and solved. Learning how to effectively cross these bridges is part of what makes relationships fun and exciting. But when communication is mainly conducted online and via text messages, it’s been done in a context that lacks the most personal aspect of it. Unsurprisingly, many parents complain their kids might refer to calling someone on the phone as an experience that is too intense; because it requires more direct communication and if they’re not used to it, it could be quite scary for them. Due to this reason, parents are usually advised by experts to regulate the availability of internet and social media to their kids. To conclude, I believe that the internet has undoubtedly been beneficial, but there are good reasons to be concerned about social interactions in our societies. It is therefore important that we maintain a balance between our online life and our contact with real human beings.