Technology Changing Communication in Today\'s World How

Technology Changing Communication in Today's World

How Technology has Changed Communication

Even though communicating can be just as easy being in front of your computer at home, it is still not the same as being in touch with others and having intimate relationships. Most families, who have upgraded technology in their homes for work and school, should prioritize their time to eliminate the barriers that social networking can create because it is a lot different to have long distant relationships and has disadvantages compared to the ones we share in person. Having this type of communication, the computer and internet, in the home can create a scapegoat for spouses to get involved with to get away from their problems.

When relationships between people lack the closeness that two people can share, relationships are just not the same with interactions completely limited to the individuals. According to Sternberg's Theory, relationships require intimacy, passion, and commitment, and without them it will be lacking and fail (Grant). Online, we communicate through a headset, by typing, and looking at another person's web camera or pictures, yet we are not face-to-face to experience their personality, and it is easy to get the wrong impression. How can people really get to know each other through words or a picture when there is so much more to interacting even though we think we know the person on the other side?

By prioritizing time for family and time on the internet can help relationships because it allows the person who is online in school, doing tasks for work, and people with the hobby to see that others in the home need their attention. Tamara Lackey commented on prioritizing by asking "Is the life you're living worth the price you're paying to live it" (Schwarz), and if you are not then change it. People should treat online communications as a part of the daily activities that need done like a regular job, task, or game that would normally keep someone's attention for a while. Loved ones and friends can communicate with you with the time you make for them, and it can help the person realize that the relationships they encounter through personal contact are much more a reality than what they have ever experienced through the web.

While the internet and social networking can be fun it is also habit forming, and it can lead people to log online than solving problems they have. A lot of people in a relationship will get online, read, drink, and hang with friends to keep from dealing with personal problems, yet the issues only build up and get worse. Many psychological experts look at "Internet addiction disorder" as a result of social reasons, spousal issues, to having a mental disorder, and other anxieties that life can cause people to escape their realities (Grohol). Addictions need to be treated a like and looked as a problem, and the person with the problem should first admit they are online too much and they need to get their life back in control just like people do in recovery to make it.