By: Keith N. Hampton – “No: Relationships Are Being Enhanced, not Replaced”
In his article, “Is Technology Making People Less Sociable” Keith Hampton, who holds the professorship in Communications and Public Policy at Rutgers University’s School of Communication & Information, maintains that technology is supplementing our relationships and social lives. First, Hampton cites the sociologist Charles Cooley’s idea, comparing holds reading a newspaper in the mornings was perceived 100 years ago as “undermining the American family”, to technology users today.
Based on one of his studies, Hampton maintains that social media users are likely to keep closer and more varied relationships than those who do not use this on-line technology. Hampton shows how most relationships, through technology use, are becoming stronger and deeper. For instance, people who we knew at some point in our lives (classmates, neighbors, coworkers) are now communicating on-line with us.
Moreover, it is important to recognize that “in our closest relationships, today’s technologies don’t replace interpersonal interaction, they supplement it.” Likewise, social media is providing unknown data like the interests and opinions of those we connect with, making it easier to identify people who share our ideas and interests. New studies have also evidenced that some social media users do not to show higher stress levels, warning that not all information is useful or “leads to better friendships,” and technology has offered advantages “we have never enjoyed before”.
Dr. Hampton can be reached at: reports@wsj.com
