Does social networking bring us closer together, or further apart?

1. 81

   SoundNFuryposted 11 years ago

   Does social networking bring us closer together, or further apart?
   
   While sites like facebook and twitter enable us to share vast amounts of our lives with others in an instant, are our intereactions in fact becoming shallower?

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2. 0

   HamidsPOVposted 11 years ago

   Social networking like any tool can be used correctly or incorrectly. I think many people choose to use their social media pages for superficial purposes - which ultimately keeps us separated. When someone chooses to use social media platforms properly it can keep people connected in a deep and meaningful way.

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   1. 81

      SoundNFuryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree 100%, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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   2. 60

      Lor's Storiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      When I hear someone say all is well in their world. I often say to myself
      " Who are you trying to convince?"

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   3. 61

      creativehouseunposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Hamid I like and agree with you.

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   4. 61

      saqib saqiposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Like every contrasting choices; which varry on geographical, geopolitical and cultural bases; the productivity or destructiveness of any particular thing also carry according to the intentions ..

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   5. 60

      Sammy Doeposted 3 years agoin reply to this

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3. 91

   lorddraven2000posted 11 years ago

   A little of both really. I read about an experiment where a man spent a year chatting with a woman on a social media site. They were then introduced to each other in person and they had difficulty talking. it is like conversation is more difficult in the real world.

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   1. 81

      SoundNFuryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      yeah, it definitely is a double-edged sword.  I kind of met my girlfriend of 3 years now through facebook so I value it's potential in bringing people together who might not have had the chance otherwise.   Thanks.

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4. 61

   busyguruposted 11 years ago

   Closer together. I try to ignore other people's "static" and pay attention to the people who are most important in my life.

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   1. 81

      SoundNFuryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I guess as with anything else, it really comes down to what we do with it.  Thanks!

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      Lor's Storiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The ones closest to me are the ones I see in person!

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5. 61

   abbyw1989posted 11 years ago

   I think it depends on the people using it! I emigrated to Ireland 3 years ago and use Facebook on a daily basis to catch up with friends and family. It's a free way of chatting and seeing all the latest photos of the kids growing up, new pets etc
   However, I think a lot of people use social media as a way of spouting rubbish to a large audience (do I care if someone had toast or cereal for breakfast, no I don't =P)
   Like most things in this life, it really depends on who is using it as to how close/distant it makes us. I think social media allows a lot of people a glimpse into lives they could never lead, as with celebrities' Instagram and Twitter accounts

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   1. 81

      SoundNFuryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said abbyw1989!  If you can sift through all the garbage on it, it can be pretty useful.  I suppose it's like the internet in general, it just depends on the user.

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6. 0

   amandainesposted 11 years ago

   I feel that social networking actually drives us apart.  While me may all rely on communicating with our friends through social networks such as twitter and facebook, we actually end up having less REAL contact with these friends.
   
   To leave a message on a wall is not in any way the same as contacting that friend by phone or even better arranging a date when you can both meet and talk in person.
   
   Very often when it is a friend's birthday, you may just leave a birthday greeting on that friend's wall and feel that in doing this you have now complied with your obligation to that friend,  Although in days gone by, when these social networks did not exist, you would for sure have tried to organize something a bit more special with your friend.  Either a drink after work, an evening out at the cinema or even a lovely meal out. 
   
   I know that we can keep track of our friends more when following them on a social network, which is good, but after having said this, it also makes us much lazier.  We know what our friends are doing, we don't have to ring them any more to find out what they are doing as it is all perfectly documented in the social network and so the direct contact with them begins to diminish. 
   
   So my final conclusion is that social networking drives us further apart simply because it makes us lazy and makes us forget other more meaningful, albeit old fashioned, forms of communication.

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7. 60

   kiranferozposted 11 years ago

   yeah social networking is doing quite a good job to bring us closer but on the other hand it does not shows an emotional connection... I mean, we dont know that the person on the other side we are talking to is really sincere or interested in talking to us or is he just doing time pass.... so social networking just keeps us updated about our friends and families recent activities....

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8. 61

   kappsposted 11 years ago

   Social networking- new generation's tool!
   It is apt to ask this sort of question with the advancement in technology.
   The sites which bring us closer with people ,  also increases the distance from people. The sites like facebook and twitter are being addictive. According to the data survey, these days 3 year kids too have their account on networking sites. It is positive in a sense of bonding and it is also negative in the sense of bonding. Where on one side, one friends with millions of people,chat,share thoughts,make money,conferences,share files,cracks the business deals, on the other side one tends to neglect the real-life people of one's life. It may bring us near to some people but it may crates the long distance,which may be difficult to cover later on, with some people. So, there is a need of balance to be maintained. A little time management for your near and dear ones.

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9. 60

   Lor's Storiesposted 11 years ago

   I don't like it.
   Facebook has become a place of one- sided attitudes. If I don't agree with someone they de- friend me. Or if I show pictures of the kids they get mad.
   I don't push social issues on anyone,
   Nor do I like the content FB allows.
   Showing kids who are suffering or disfigured, I think there should be some discretion,
   I'm often shocked at what I see. Or what people have said about me,
   The most distasteful thing I saw was someone showing her dead daughter's bald head on her page and asked us what are you going to do about this?
   What are we supposed to say other than give out a condolence.
   People show their scars after just having surgery. That turns me off
   I had skull and spine surgery last summer, I wanted my privacy,
   I believe when all is clear and on the road to recovery you might want to say you are okay.
   Baby pics are good.
   I still say there's another way to socialize without showing dead bodies or deformed children. I know what's out there.
   What can we do? Make a smile book!! 
   I rarely stay on FB.
   My one friend announced she was going to kill herself,
   I tried to get her to calm down. I think she is gone now.

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10. 78

    cebutouristspotposted 11 years ago

    It depends on how you used it.  Like everything else in the world if it is used properly it can bring friend together but if it is not it will drive you further apart.

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11. 77

    alphagirlposted 11 years ago

    No and yes. It has given everyone access to our personal lives while depersonalizing how me communicate face to face. I am not a big FB Fan EXCEPT if it helps a business. The reason is because I only want to share with close friends those special moments. I also will call a person. I think there is a false sense of closeness and things get misconstrued in FB. I do think FB is a great in connecting long lost friends, staying connected if you live out of the country or out of state. I am bothered by the vast amount of info that people post."  It is an open book and open for any weird person to latch on to.
    I have teen girls too. I told them, "You lose all control when you post anything because FB time-lines things. You lose control when employers and colleges peek at your life and start questioning things you did when you were a teen. Things that were silly and things that kids do that are dumb before 18.The written pen can be held against you. It can go viral and it can be damaging.
    So does it bring us together....No for some things and yes for branding.

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12. 74

    Li Galoposted 11 years ago

    It sounds like different people have different experiences.  I was opposed to using FB. I thought it was going to be another MySpace - ugh.  But that's not been the case.  Instead, I now visit friends I barely spoke to before.  We set up a time to meet on FB and then we meet up.  I learn about birthday parties and other celebrations I might not have heard about before and where the only invitation comes through FB.  Then we all meet up at the parties.  A friend sings and announces where she sings.  We meet up to support her singing.  I like the pics from people that live far away from me.  I like the jokes and memes.  If I'm ever feeling down a bit, all I have to do is go to FB and my friends make me feel better.  I connected with people I hadn't seen in 20 years that I went to high school with.  It was awesome to see them in person after connecting on FB!  So, for me, it's been nothing but good. My high school reunion was only posted on FB and nowhere else... so it's an important means of communication.  Only two people have posted things I didn't want to see (graphic).  I let them know I was blocking them because I didn't want to see those things. They are still my friends on FB and in real life but they just private message me or post direct to my wall and I don't have to see their lewd pics that don't interest me.

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13. 59

    itssarahjposted 10 years ago

    Further apart as a community in where we reside. But together on social media. People who are alike online tend to attract to similar things/blogs/forums/games/etc.

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14. 59

    JasminRaceposted 10 years ago

    I think that they make us lazy!! Definitely not closer together. Ok they are good for long distance family etc I much prefered the world without social networks and mobile phones where you had to make real effort to communicate with your family and friends, you had to visit face to face and interact not just send a quick message! I also think its making our children more shallow and they do not have as many social skills these days

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15. 39

    RyanLesterposted 8 years ago

    I think there is a point where social media is actually more anti-social media than anything else! What happened to real world friendships? Seem much harder to come by these days. People are too bothered about likes and followers, creating a very superficial culture amongst the global population. A shame really...

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16. 56

    Mani Kanta Mandaposted 7 years ago

    Social networking all the time increasing our network of friends and making us come close to each other in terms of relationships and it's a best way to handle our friends so that we can spend some quality time for them.

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17. 53

    Aryan Aroraposted 7 years ago

    So social networking site .. really a good topic .. I think it both brings us closer and further apart .. It is true that we can communicate with our dear and near ones who live in far places .. we can share our secrets to them ... can talk to them and can feel relax .. However one engaged in such sites forgot to give time to those who are your near like your mother , father , siblings and colony friend ... Thanks you can check my hubs also . Since I am new I want your cooperation

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18. 73

    Deepika ojhaposted 6 years ago

    Previously, when social networking term came and websites like outlook which are old now, that time this is a new term and we enjoy with our friends.
    
    when facebook came, we appreciate it was also interesting but after some time, I think people here take this website use more for their professional use, not for their personal use.
    
    Nowadays, there are also many incidents came of crime and forgery through this social network and these incidents are increasing day by day so the people now fear a little bit on putting their personal info on these social medias.
    one more point, today these social media have also become the matter to showcase their daily life updates.This is good for people who get great success in their life, but people who are waiting for opportunities for them these social media have become the matter of irritation.
    
    In one survey I have read that, people today who are not using social media are more happier than a people who use social media daily.
    
    This is because today these social medias have become the matter of pride and prestige for some people. while, some people do not, have anything exciting to say about their life in public.

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19. 61

    Jarvis Millerposted 6 years ago

    Social networking should bring us closer together to better ourselves. Not to gossip over some he said she said mess. That how bad stuff get started.

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20. 68

    Mary Florenceposted 6 years ago

    Social networking is just like any day to day, one on one interraction. Just because it's virtual doesn't mean it's shallow.  Behind computers and phones are the same real people we could interract with in real life. There are just more available people to interract with compared to an ordinary physical setting. The interractions being deep or shallow have nothing to do with the fact that they are virtual connections,  we have shallow connections in real life too.It's not about the place  it's about the people.

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21. 41

    customdroidposted 6 years ago

    It depends how addicted you are with social media. Social media is suppose to make the world a better place & connect people globally but now days mostly teenagers use this medium as a entertainment network. Well my opinion is 50/50.

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22. 60

    Eazyjay 30posted 6 years ago

    Sure, social networks do bring us together with the condition of only they'd be used positively in exploring and recreation not otherwise

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23. 80

    Nancy Owensposted 6 years ago

    It is my humble opinion that when it comes to human interaction, nothing beats face-to-face. Phone conversations (including Skype or face time) come in at second place, and email shows up in third. Fourth place goes to text messages, and fifth place is all the other stuff.
    
    Where Facebook is concerned, I think that shallow was the whole point of Zuckerberg's invention. (Pardon my guess at the spelling)
    
    Something fast, fun, put it out there and get likes.

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24. 60

    petexanhposted 6 years ago

    I heard an interesting concept recently that anecdotally rings true to me. Social networking often tends to encourage a form of insular tribalism, where it is not only easy to surround yourself with people who not only share your interests, but also share your own point of view. These highly subjective bubbles of reality have the potential to be fertile breeding grounds for zealotry and expressions hostility towards those who arent deemed 'one of the faithful', and it can be difficult to challenge your own beliefs, or look at the facts objectively when your existing  social network becomes your bff.
    
    It is really the antithesis of what the global community of cyberspace is supposed to be.

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25. 94

    EricFarmer8xposted 6 years ago

    It depends on how you use the networks. If you use them to meet new people and interact positively then yes they bring people together.

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26. 60

    alexarain379posted 6 years ago

    from it is name "social network" it connects us with each other, i think it makes me more comfortable which may be referred to laziness or may not, first i was forced to get out to tell my friend something now i have option to get out or stay.

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    Marcus Graysonposted 6 years ago

    Definitely closer together. I know about my friend much more than my father ever could about his. I know what they ate for breakfast, where have they been last weekend, everything! And when we finally meet, there is nothing to talk about, because I've already actually commented it. So, people think that it affects the social communication. In fact, we just invented another type of communication and the previous one is not working for us anymore. Just like horses.

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    sapintegrationposted 6 years ago

    Thank you for the great article.It's unique..Really nice

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29. 59

    mohsinulposted 3 years ago

    From my end, Its a way of how you take social media.
    
    We are busy and change our life style. We Return from our work then take some rest. If our nearest one is close to us we can talk or share everything face to face.
    
    If our nearest one is so far away from us, then what we can do? Nowadays social media makes it so easy to connect.
    
    There is a way of how you use it. I'm connecting my distance buds through social media.

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30. 60

    Tinkan Royposted 3 years ago

    When I hear someone say all is well in their world. I often say to myself
    " Who are you trying to convince?"

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31. 42

    Sojy SNposted 3 years ago

    Social media has cultivated a multi dimensional personality among common people. It gives two sets of lifestyle, one to showcase and another to live

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    JoshuaWright02posted 3 years ago

    In my opinion, it's bringing us further apart. people are not as scared to share their controversial opinions on social media as they are face to face. And when someone shares a controversial opinion on their account then some of their friends who do not like their opinion in all likelihood will not be pleased. Social media also creates an echo chamber in which we can easily surround ourselves with like-minded people as opposed to interacting with those with different opinions in order to understand one another.

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33. 84

    bhattucposted 3 years ago

    It is bringing them closer who are already close and not otherwise.

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