Unplug and Connect

​

Logan Hall

​

           The invention of the cell phone was intended to allow individuals to connect with each other by way of a phone call regardless of their location. Being unencumbered from a telephone landline has been life altering for hundreds of millions of people all over the world. During earlier years, individuals would not have predicted how quickly cell phone technology would advance. Currently, smart phones serve as hand held computers, and are used to check emails, text messages, post photos and videos, shop, find directions, and keep up with others via numerous social media platforms. This real-time, twenty-four hour, seven days a week available interaction with the world would seemingly allow for strong connections with each other; however, in many situations the opposite it true. The reality is that texting and social media usage on cell phones has enabled a psychological shift in the way we communicate which may damage interpersonal relationships, it has created the addictive desire for more time with technology, and lessened the desire for or remarkably reduced one’s real social interaction with others.

​

            People have a strong urge to connect with one another. Traditionally, the way people have interacted is through face to face contact or phone conversations. Social media, along with texting, has invented an entirely new form of communication and social bonding experience. Social media is comprised of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, You Tube, and numerous other sites, which enable millions of people to connect with each other daily. For the average person, an inordinate amount of time and energy goes into developing and maintaining a presence on one or more social media platforms. According to Betsy McLeod from Blue Corona, a marketing data collection company, eighty-one percent of Americans have at least one social media profile, sixty-eight percent of Americans are on Facebook daily, and one hundred million hours of video content is watched on Facebook alone every day (McLeod). Additionally, every sixty seconds on Facebook 510,000 comments are posted, 293,000 statuses are updated, and 136,000 photos are uploaded (McLeod). Remarkably, the statistics mentioned above only refer to one social media platform. According to Jessica Brown from the BBC, three billion people, forty percent of the world’s population, spend time on social media (Brown). This time spent on social media replaces other forms of possible human interaction. As this new psychological shift in communication becomes normalized, the prevalence of people preferring to text or create a social media post instead of spending time with another actual person is increasing. Little by little, technology has become an integral way in which individuals communicate with each other.

​

            This new way of connecting with each other can damage our relationships. An article from The Wall Street Journal remarks that, “… we spend so much time maintaining superficial connections online that we aren’t dedicating enough time or effort to cultivating deeper real-life relationships” (“Is Technology Making People Less Sociable?”). Even when individuals do get together socially, or are together at work, the lure of texting and spending time on social media exerts a strong pull. Individuals may find that they are together in the physical sense, but perhaps not entirely present in the moment. Emily Drago writes in the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications that there is a negative correlation between the presence of mobile devices and the quality of face to face social interactions (13). In addition, Przybylski and Weinstein write in The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships that the interactions where mobile devices were present were rated less empathetic and negatively affected the closeness, connectedness, and quality of those conversations (237). Divided attention caused by mobile devices causes distractedness and can lead to conflict within relationships as well. Most people can relate to the scenario of a friend spending time on their cell phone during a social outing. In addition, one can observe a significant number of couples, while eating out, checking their cell phones for texts, posts, and emails during their meal. When distractedness happens, a psychological reaction takes place which results in reduced trust, increased anxiety, reduced closeness and reduced perceived empathy (Przybylski and Weinstein 244). Texting in the presence of others sends the message that someone else is more important. These types of interactions damage interpersonal relationships as they switch the focus to the outward social network concerns.

​

            Being physically present somewhere but also needing to be connected outwardly to others, can represent addictive behavior towards your mobile device. Dr. Susan Weinschenk writes in Psychology Today that people desire to look at a text within seconds of receiving it; this is primarily because of the classical conditioning psychological response. Weinschenk also states that texts, social media likes on your posts, and other feedback we receive from social media causes a dopamine pleasure chemical to be released in your brain. This type of response begins a loop where you psychologically seek to repeat the cycle (Weinschenk). José De-Sola Gutiérrez, et al. state in their research that they observed the equivalence of substance abuse or gambling addiction as it relates to the desire of their research subjects to spend an exorbitant amount of time on their cell phones texting or using social media. This can result in physical manifestations such as lack of sleep, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress. In addition, there are new psychological phenomenon such as FOMO (fear of missing out), Nomophobia (fear of being without your cell phone), and Textaphrenia (the false sensation of having received text messages which causes you to constantly check your cell phone) all which can have serious repercussions on individuals if they do not purposefully monitor their cell phone behavior (Gutiérrez et al. 2). For some the cell phone has morphed into a real-life addictive habit, one that controls their emotions as well as their physical and mental well-being and affects their relationships and their quality of life.

​

            Even though people are spending large amounts of time on social media or texting, the human need for socialization is not being met with these types of interactions. You cannot replace a physical hug with an emoji. There are psychological benefits from real life interaction that can never be duplicated through social media. An article from Harvard Health Publishing states that the social support an individual gets from authentic interaction is important to both the mental and physical health of an individual (“The Health Benefits of Strong Relationships”). Face to face interactions allow people to express their feelings and share problems they are experiencing, which in turn allows for them to feel real emotional support from another person. Some people might argue that they can emotionally support their friends by sending funny memes, checking up on them through a text, or posting a message on their social media; however, scientific research would argue otherwise. Psychologists L. Mark Carrier et al. point out that empathy shown through social media is only one-sixth as effective in making the recipient feel understood as compared to a real face to face communication (39). An example would be a friend recovering from surgery, where one might consider texting as a quality way to check up and remind them that they are cared for. However, when contrasted with bringing a meal over on a personal visit, the text pales in comparison.

​

            Considering these facts, it is alarming that time spent on social media or communicating through text is lessening people’s desire to spend time with people face to face. Unfortunately, it is culminating into the false sense of feeling socially connected through technology. Time spent on social media may give individuals a false feeling of inclusion which may fulfill a desire to belong. This feeling might then reduce an individual’s desire for actual social interaction. A study by Dr. Brian A. Primack et al. finds that people with high social media use become more socially isolated than those with low social media use. Social isolation is where a person does not truly engage with people or have fulfilling relationships (7). Sherry Turkle, a researcher and professor at M.I.T., discusses the phenomenon of living in an age of advanced technology where people have settled for connection instead of conversation. Individuals become accustomed to using technology to connect with people from a distance, believing texts or posts on social media are real conversations. Face to face relationships require more effort and can be complicated. Technology has taught us to avoid the work that real relationships require by reducing relationships to exchanges through text or social media, where people find the illusion of relationships without the demands of actual companionship (Turkle).

​

            As more and more generations become normalized to social media being part of their everyday existence, society may suffer. Society collectively maintains the drive to form deep connections and help those who are less fortunate. It would be detrimental to everyone if time spent on social media resulted in withdrawal from those desired shared outcomes. Some may argue that the ability to help others is just a click of a button away, making an online donation or posting an encouraging comment; however, true compassion diminishes without a personal connection with others. Fake connections should never supplant the real thing. Society may be negatively affected when people become more reliant on technology to connect with friends and family.

​

            The prevalent use of texting and social media on cell phones has created a unique form of communication which may damage interpersonal relationships, developed an oftentimes addictive desire for more time with technology, and has through its prevalent usage lessened, in some, the desire for real social interaction. Considering the erosion of the face-to-face community, individuals should constantly be evaluating their relationship with their smart phone. Why would an individual be concerned about these negative consequences regarding excessive texting and time spent on social media? There is a universally shared desire to lead a well-balanced life, which includes healthy relationships with individuals one cares about. Most people want to have time to volunteer and make a difference. One might need to ask oneself if they could navigate throughout their day without constantly being on their cell phone. A healthy dose of introspection is good for everyone. Replace the desire for social media with the desire to go outside, spend time with others, start a hobby, invest in relationships with friends and family, and be completely present in the moment when interacting with others. Individuals should evaluate what truly matters and encourage others to do so as well. Society collectively benefits when individuals choose to unplug, connect with others, and experience socialization in the real world.

​

Works Cited 

​

Brown, Jessica. “Is Social Media Bad for You? The Evidence and the Unknowns.” BBC, BBC, 5 Jan. 2018, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for-you-the-evidence-and-the-unknowns. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.

​

Carrier, L. Mark, et al. “Virtual Empathy: Positive and Negative Impacts of Going Online upon Empathy in Young Adults.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 52, 2015, pp. 39-48, http://www5.csudh.edu/psych/Virtual_empathy_-_Positive_and_negative_impacts_of_going_online_upon_empathy_in_young_adults.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar. 2019.

​

Drago, Emily. “The Effect of Technology on Face-to-Face Communication.” Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, vol. 6, no. 1, 2015, pp. 13-19,  https://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/academics/communications/research/vol6no1/02DragoEJSpring15.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar. 2019.

​

Gutierrez, Jose De-Sola, et al. “Cell-Phone Addiction: A Review.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 7, no. 175, 24 Oct. 2016, pp. 1-15, doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00175. Accessed 27 Mar. 2019.

​

“The Health Benefits of Strong Relationships.” Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard University, Dec. 2010, https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.

​

“Is Technology Making People Less Sociable?” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, Inc., 10 May 2015, https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-technology-making-people-less-sociable-1431093491?ns=prod/accounts-wsj. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.

​

McLeod, Betsy. “100+ Social Media Statistics You’ll Want to See (2017).” Blue Corona, Blue Corona, 25 Apr. 2017, https://www.bluecorona.com/blog/social-media-statistics-2017. Accessed 29 Mar. 2019.

​

Primack, Brian A., et al. “Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young. Adults in the U.S.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine, vol. 53, no. 1, July 2017, pp. 1-8, doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.010. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.

​

Przybylski, Andrew K., Netta Weinstein. “Can You Connect with Me Now? How the Presence of Mobile Communication Technology Influences Face-to-Face Conversation Quality.” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, vol. 30, no. 3, 1 May 2013, pp. 237-246, doi: 10.1177/0265407512453827. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.

​

Turkle, Sherry. “The Flight from Conversation.” The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 21 Apr. 2012, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.

​

Weinschenk, Susan. “Why We’re All Addicted to Texts, Twitter and Google.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 11 Sept. 2012, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-wise/201209/why-were-all-addicted-texts-twitter-and-google. Accessed 28 Mar. 2019.