Social Networks: Are they making us less social?

The answer to this question is more obvious than one might think and it isn't "yes".

In fact, they make us MORE social. Perhaps not in reality but online.

Now, don't discount or belittle online social interaction, you're still dealing with a person on the other end. Forgetting that is, in my opinion, the biggest mistake.
The potential anonymity factor in online interaction is a catalyst really. You don't have to reveal your real name, and this helps people to be more honest and open...and more open minded, even if only by an immeasurable amount for some, and by a vast or reasonable amount for others.

Part of the reason I have never once, or will ever own a Facebook account is because I do not agree that one should be compelled to reveal anything about themselves to people! Not everybody wants to be so easily found.

But moving back on track, Social networks do not inhibit social behavior, they promote it tenfold, it's just a matter of society fully integrating it and balancing out it's powerful effects. Any protocol of polite interaction on a social network is still in it's infancy as there's a lot of uncertainty sometimes about what to do in certain situations, for example being "Un-friended". Do you in that situation have justification for being offended or not? What situations do you have justification for being offended, and what situations do you not have such justification?
Those are the questions that society as a whole is still working on...there really ISN'T a definite answer to that question as of yet...it still comes down to your personality, and that isn't always the best thing to leave things to. Society just hasn't yet seen the need to provide such guidelines because the integration of social networking and the internet into society as a whole is STILL in it's infancy stages.

I will agree, moderation for social networking/media is a must. I personally only really use twitter infrequently and livejournal occasionally. Anyone who follows me on twitter knows that I don't flood pointless tweets, attempt to trend or even tolerate followers I can't quickly identify as reasonably human twitter users.
Though most people who follow me do know that I'm not afraid to use twitter to express myself.

Spoiler:


Social media is a blessing because we can keep in contact regardless of distance. It's just a matter of society hammering out the details of protocol regarding when it's appropriate to use it and when using it would be OVERUSING it.
 
I think there's more than just face-to-face interaction that goes into how social you are. I think social networks, since you still feel the same feelings when talking to someone knew (because they know who you are, unlike on a forum) and all that crap, it's nearly identical to talking to them in person.

From personal experience, I believe social networks make people more social. It made me more social, and I've never heard of someone becoming less social due to social networks.
 
The social networks themselves aren't making us less social, but the self-destructive ways people use the can certainly contribute. My opinion is sort of similar to the one I put forth in the religion debate: where religion itself is fine, but when it leads to dogmas and rituals and spurious interpretations it makes the people turn bad. With social networks, there's a whole gamut of possibilities one can encounter: using them as a positive tool to help build/rebuild friendships offline or online; using them as a check on how friends are doing; or, negatively, becoming so withdrawn into the network itself that you lose track of the people you were supposed to be using it to connect with.

So... the network itself isn't making us less social, but some people's use of them may make them less social.
 
I think the notion that social networks are making us less social is ********. Just because the conversations are not face-to-face, it doesn't make it any less social. Yes, of course it makes it impersonal, but not antisocial. The definition of "social" is "the interaction of organisms with other organisms." It doesn't specify what implements they must/mustn't use to interact with for it to be a valid "social interaction".

If there is an interaction, voluntary or involuntary, between two organisms, that is a "social interaction."

Also, the definition of "antisocial" is misapplied. Antisocialness isn't the desire to NOT interact with people- it's not willing or unable to interact in a friendly, pro-socially accepted manner. I really doubt Facebook makes people misanthropic and hostile. That would be a rather odd paradox- a misanthropic person that likes Facebook...

Anyway, I think a more appropriate issue to think about is whether they're making us wanting to interact face-to-face less, making us misanthropic, etc., etc.. In this case, it seriously depends. I will say 'no,' as a general answer.

For negative interactions, such as a break-up, technology has become somewhat of a crutch for a lot of people. I haven't heard of people getting dumped in person for a VERY long time. Perhaps these are just my experiences, so the bias invalidates this point. A break-up is a break-up; nobody dwells on how it occurred- they dwell on the why and the actual aftermath of one.

As for positive interactions, it still looks like people much prefer face-to-face experiences. In fact, social networks are often used to create an opportunity to interact face-to-face, such as Facebook's event function.

A person who feels/thinks as though they're isolated (whether they physically are or not will have no bearing on their behaviour) are prone to grow a reliance on technological interactions, and as a result, may become habituated. This can result in uncomfortableness in face-to-face situations. When examined from this viewpoint, people who become that way had a pre-existing succeptibility. So networking may be nurturing a bad habit, but it in no way, causes it.
 
I know a lot of you are saying that online and IRL social interactions are the same, and either is good at making us social beings, but I think that IRL is what is the most important. Physical human contact is what everyone craves (I don't mean that in a sexual sense or anything like that) and I know for me, and online social interaction isn't gonna fill that like being around people (tangible people that is...not just their words).
 
Thomas said:
I know a lot of you are saying that online and IRL social interactions are the same, and either is good at making us social beings, but I think that IRL is what is the most important. Physical human contact is what everyone craves (I don't mean that in a sexual sense or anything like that) and I know for me, and online social interaction isn't gonna fill that like being around people (tangible people that is...not just their words).
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I agree with you people need to be physically around people...imagine what would happen if the social networks go down? You wouldn't have anyone to talk to until they are back on while in Real life you can go and visit your friends and family and share moments with them physically instead of electronically...
 
I think you might be onto something, there. And I have a little bit more to add. We can also consider Social Networking websites to be making us less social because online interaction is simply easier than face-to-face. People who are generally more comfortable on an online website like Facebook, will more likely do most socializing over Facebook because it's easy and it's from your own home.

Some people may simply be more inclined to be social online rather than in real life. That's not to say they never go out, but think about how easy it is to strike up a chat on FB Chat or sign onto Skype.
 
I will admit I spend an extreme amount of time on social networks. Twitter is slowly becoming boring, but I find people on Twitter more like me. They have the same interests as me and basically Beliebers, my type of people who like Justin Bieber, take over Twitter. And I like it, it makes me feel fit in.

Facebook, I only go on to keep in contact with my family and friends, Myspace I never go on ever and really that's it. It is a good way to keep in contact but I will admit I do spend quite a bit of time on social networking sites.
 
On a slight topic shift...what do you guys think about the social networks that actually let you visually see a person. Sites like Omegle (in vid), Chatroulette (in vid), Dailybooth (in pics)...its almost like you are with the person, do you think that these sites make the interaction feel a little less impersonal because you can see them, or is it all the same because you are just sitting in front of a computer screen.
 
Absolutely. Back when I was a kid, I remember people would actually talk to each other between classes and outside. Now everyone's buried in their cell phone or loafing around on Facebook or whatever's popular these days. It's pretty lame.

I've never had a cell phone and I don't plan to get one.
 
I have noticed that a lot too. Even though I'm in college now, many people before class are just on their phones probably looking at facebook or twitter or something. Back when I was in high school (I started high school in 2002) it was a lot different because no one our age had cell phones back them...and if they did it was rare. I got my first cell phone when I started driving at 16 in 2004...and even then, it wasn't a phone that you could do any kind of web browsing on. It was a Motorola v60i and it had a black and white lcd screen on it. XD
 
Personally it's both for me. Sure, when it comes to some of my friends, social networks are a little easier, and it becomes a little impersonal and unsocial. But it's also a way for me to get connected with people, that otherwise, i wouldn't have talked to ever again really.
 
That is one of the things that I am extremely guilty of. The phone at the dinner table is something I'm really trying to stop doing, but it is hard when you keep haring the notifications of a new tweet, text, email, etc.

Anybody else have trouble kicking this habit?
 
twocows said:
Absolutely. Back when I was a kid, I remember people would actually talk to each other between classes and outside. Now everyone's buried in their cell phone or loafing around on Facebook or whatever's popular these days. It's pretty lame.

I've never had a cell phone and I don't plan to get one.
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That's weird.

At my school, everyone has their phones, but almost everyone still prefer to talk in person. Maybe it's these people, but then I guess I like them. Albeit, some are completely retarded.

This girl started yelling at me for passing her, calling me a sexist. She was walking slow. I am fat and short. I walk slower than most people.

Anyways, to go back on topic, I don't think social networks make people less social. It makes them social but in a different way.

Nothing about the word "social" implies that it has to be in-person.
 
I'm on both Facebook and Twitter and I am very contrary to the question of this subject. PlatinumDude is one of my FB fans and he is also following me on Twitter.

I'm following 1,106 people and subjects on Twitter. You'll have to look at my profile (@Hikari10Girl) to see this huge list of what I'm following. I have high-functioning autism and social media is making me more social.
 
Topic change:

What social network do you guys think most emulates the real kind of social interactions we have daily in real life?

If I had to choose, I guess it would be Twitter mostly because it is direct communication back and forth with each other without all the frills.
 
Of course Facebook has made us less social, but... I still like it. It has detached social interactions in a way unparalleled by all but texting and AIM, because, while you are talking to another person, they are also just an avatar on a computer.
 
Well, Facebook, made me quite a bit more social. It made me more likely to hang out with kids and not hang around at home all day. Altho, it does make me cling around the computer when I have nothing to do, but I guess it's worth it.
 
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