數位社交之利弊

With development of technology in recent years, digital communication facilitates social connection regardless of distances and time restrictions. It seems to elicit more virtual meetings and less face-to-face contacts in both business scenarios and personal needs. As the pandemic of Covid-19 has spread around the world, social distancing and quarantines enhanced this inclination to communicate in virtual world. It could be argued that this new social norm has influenced human relationships in real life.

There is no doubt that communication via Internet in various formats, such as phone calls, texts, images, emails, tele-conference and con-call meetings, is always available socially. Internet usage fees are much less than the huge cost of international phone calls in the past. It goes without saying that using technology for communicating, especially across countries, suffices the needs to keep in touch with business partners or intimate friends. In addition to the high level of portability, the popularization of smart phones has been predominant around the world. Social media applications, Facebook, Line, Instagram, etc., has even escalated virtual communication, not only for acquaintances but also for unknown encounters. As a result of that, many believe that the world has become a global village.

This may be true but enormous amount of time is spent on the Internet. The most worrying aspect of digital technology is to keep away from having actual experiences and face to face communication with people in real life. According to recent medical reports, using a smart phone and being online most of the time causes many psychological issues such as loneliness, being suspicious all the time and feeling self-centered, etc. The second major argument is that it is too convenient. People you know expect you to be reachable since you own a device. It seems to me that there are no fixed working hours and anxiety rises when not retorting immediately. Another argument put forward is more and more people are becoming addicted to the Internet and losing the ability to differentiate from virtual world and real life, not to mention the physical effects of electromagnetic radiation and the HEV light emitted from the screen.

While spending too much time on smartphones possibly affects people’s mental health and causes depression. The difference between virtuality and reality tends to be vague with the development of technology. This becomes a more important issue to learn how to distinguish and define self and a healthy friendship. Definition of friendship is “an exchanging of self-revelation; when one explains to others what one feels very deeply,”; “With time and trust and talk, you make yourself vulnerable to another.” Thus, a trustworthy relationship shall rely on mutual connection in face-to-face interaction. More people seem to depend on smartphones for everything and become really addicted that they text, talk, watch videos, or play games while walking or driving on the road. There is heightened level of danger which causes serious trouble as being busy makes react slow.

I feel the question is controversial no matter how we choose to communicate, especially during the pandemic period. This new normal redefines intimacy of relationships. In my opinion, it is vital to understand that we, as human beings, stay alive without losing our zeal. To engross ourselves by enhancing the five senses in order to be discerning towards environments and people around us is significant for a man of good judgement. In this case, I believe that too much time spent on the Internet cannot be helpful for enlightenment of the five senses. Otherwise, we might become robots without consciences.