Introduction
The rise of the digital era has improved the standards of living and provided unheard of opportunities. Concurrently, the spread of technologies has raised concerns about the nature of human relationships, now molded by screens, texting, and social media. The book titled Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other by Sherry Turkle discusses this intriguing and alarming topic that has been affecting everyone’s life.
The author argues that while people’s taste for new technologies become more refined, their standards for relationships suffer. This essay shows how social media make people not only more lonely but also anxious and depressed, despite creating a misleading impression of interconnectedness.
Always On
Though the emergence of affordable phones with extended functionality made the world more interconnected, constant accessibility also led to more anxiety in users. The chapter “Always On” addresses the issue of always being available. Hundreds of emails, several hundred texts, and phone calls have become an indispensable part of everyday life.
Turkle coined the term “client’s anxiety” to describe the stress and frustration that people experience when they always have to be “on-call” and partake in endless conversations, often traversing more than one platform. Among other things, the author ascribes “client’s anxiety” to the evolving demands of customers that “feel they have the right” (Turkle 167) to be answered right away, so they call, text, email and expect an instant answer. Turkle says, “… e-mail tends to go back and forth without resolution. Misunderstandings are frequent.
Feelings get hurt. And the greater the misunderstanding, the greater the number of emails, far more than necessary (167).” In other words, an uninterrupted online presence leads to unnecessary pressure and frustrates all parties involved.
Turkle’s claims are substantiated by recent research on the association between psychosocial aspects of mobile phone use and mental health symptoms, especially in adolescents and young adults. Thomee et al. (2011) recruited 4,056 young adults (ages 20-24) to fill in a questionnaire at baseline and one-year follow-up. The questionnaire measured the participants’ mobile phone exposure through the psychosocial lens; the selected dimensions included demands on availability, perceived stressfulness of accessibility, being awakened at night by the mobile phone, and personal overuse of the mobile phone (Thomee et al., 2011).
The scholars discovered that stress-inducing, high accessibility via mobile phone was the greatest predictor of adverse mental health symptoms at follow-up. Those who felt negative emotions about being “on” all the time reported sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms. As shown by Thomee et al. (2011), women have proven to be the most vulnerable group. Indeed, having to be within reach has a host of side effects.
It comes as no surprise that when people are “always-on” in virtual reality, they are most likely “off” in real life. Turkle describes a few recognizable scenes that have become way too common with the spread of mobile technology. A parent is checking their emails while feeding a newborn with the other hand. A group of friends gathers at a dinner table, but instead of a lively discussion, everyone is glued to their phones. Even on the run, people pay more attention to their phones than to the track. (Turkle 157).
Turkle does not commend such multitasking by stating that multitaskers fail to perform well at any of the tasks they are attempting. Yet, multitasking easily turns into a habit because of the sheer pleasure instantly rewarded with neurochemicals and a multitasking “high (Turkle 163).” The chapter concludes that contrary to popular belief, multitasking does not mean better productivity and may even lead to more mistakes.
Multitasking is a mode of information-processing that has become predominant in the digital era. However, like Turkle, psychology and neuroscience researchers have become concerned with what handling multiple tasks may mean for people’s well-being. This question has become the focus of recent research by Xu et al., who specifically studied the so-called “media multitasking,” defined as “the simultaneous pursuit of two or more relatively independent tasks, with at least one of the tasks involving media (242).”
Xu et al. have found that media multitasking has a negative impact on the feeling of normalcy in young adults. In other words, they do not feel sufficiently supported and understood by their peers, which may be a perceived attitude or actual rejection. Multitasking that included at least one medium is detrimental to self-control and self-regulation required for academic and career success.
No Need to Call
With technology interrupting and transforming normal human communication, it is likely that face-to-face communication is on its way to becoming obsolete. The chapter titled “No Need to Call” argues that the in-person mode is not the ideal model anymore. Turkle argues that screen communication offers one too many advantages that lure people away from the real world: “it is a place to reflect, retype, and edit (Turkle 187).” It is also a place to hide and a place where shy people can open up.
Turkle describes a situation that may sound not amusing but rather concerning, given the current situation. Even for romantic moments and flirting, people trust their friend to be texting because it gives confidence and encouragement that the text sounds good. While shyness is natural when it comes to meeting new people and pursuing a love interest, such actions are also a sign of depleting social skills.
Despite the ubiquity of texting, social skills are important for thriving as an individual. Huang state that social success is highly correlated with academic performance and desired career course (246). Key interactions in academia are often synchronous, which requires fast reactions and spontaneity from all parties. Unfortunately, asynchronous texting does not cultivate these qualities but rather stifles their development.
Furthermore, the sheer presence of a mobile phone next to two people talking can make them more distracted and uncomfortable (Huang 15). Aside from that, there are aspects of texting that cannot be replicated in synchronous communication. Miltner and Highfield argue that GIFs (animated images) enhance the performance of affect and demonstration of cultural knowledge. Arguably, a person who relies on GIFs may feel strained, making jokes or expressing emotions in real life.
Through this chapter, the reader sees people become tired and not willing to have people around. For example, an elderly widow interviewed by the author says that looking at Facebook photos of her grandchildren on Facebook is enough to feel connected and in touch (Turkle 203). She can hardly find the time or desire to make a phone call, let alone meet someone in person.
Jay adds to the argument by saying that people no longer talk to each other on social media; all they do is “check on” others (125). One learns about someone’s life, not from a genuine heart-to-heart conversation but from their shallow online representation.
Anxiety
The technology’s impact has caused an unheard-of level of stress, specifically among the young generation. Turkle singles out different types of anxiety, such as the anxiety to keep up with technology, to keep social media accounts up to date, and the anxiety to keep some privacy as well. Turkle interviews Hanna, sixteen, who says that being on Facebook imposes its own rules on users’ online self-presentation. One cannot share too much information, but keeping the profile blank is also “lame (Turkle 250).”
The author refers to being active on social media as ”an all-consuming effort to keep up appearances” (Turkle 250). It would not be a reach to assume that Facebook and similar platforms make people leave double-lives: the real one and one that is embellished to meet social expectations.
Social media use in adolescents has long been a subject of concern among not only parents but also scholars and educators. One of the recent studies seeks to understand the relationship between social media use, nighttime-specific social media use, emotional investment in social media and sleep quality, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression in young people.
To achieve this, Woods and Scott recruited 467 secondary school pupils, aged 11-17 years, and suggested that they fill in a questionnaire (42). As expected, it was discovered that social media use was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. However, Woods and Scott point out that the nature of this association has yet to be established (46).
It might as well be that it is anxious and depressed teens tend to use social media more because it is their only available means of emotional regulation. In addition, emotional overinvestment in social media was correlated with lower self-esteem in respondents. According to Woods and Scott, such a connection may be ascribed to teens’ exposure to other users’ purposefully constructed profiles that only show their positive characteristics and conceal the unsightly sides of their lives.
Anxiety may also stem from the fact that conversations and posts can be saved for years or sent to anybody. As one of the interviewees says, “what happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet” (Turkle 200). The permanency of the Internet data made possible revenge porn, the nonconsensual dissemination of sexually suggestive or explicit material. It could be photos or videos taken without the other person knowing or created consciously but only for a particular recipient’s eyes.
Zaleski says that revenge porn is not exactly a new phenomenon. In fact, the first issue of Playboy featured the now-iconic images of Marilyn Monroe that were used by Hugh Hefner without the actress’s permission (Zaleski). However, with the spread of social media, revenge porn has become an even more powerful weapon for hurting people and ruining their reputations.
Revenge porn is not just a source of anxiety and depression – as recent research suggests, the appearance of sexual materials on the web without permission can push a person to the brink of suicide. Ankel tells the story of 15-years-old Anna, who trusted her boyfriend enough to show him her naked body on Skype. According to the victim, a video call seemed less permanent than sending pictures. Little did she know that the boyfriend took screenshots, and soon they started to circulate around the school (Ankel).
Not only were students showing pictures to each other but they also photoshopped them and made YouTube videos mocking Anna. If not for the school’s and parents’ intervention, the girl could have ended her life. Her intentions would not be surprising: Ankel reports that 51% of revenge porn victims ideate suicide. Such cases clearly demonstrate how the power of social media and communication technologies can be tragically misused.
Reflection
This particular book has caught my attention because it seeks to answer the questions that I have had for quite a long time. Being in my early twenties, I have witnessed the digital transformation of the world and the spread of technologies that would not even be conceivable in my early childhood.
I remember myself receiving my first phone, whose functionality was definitely inferior to what I have now, my first personal computer, and the time I gained access to the world web for the first time. Since then, these devices and technologies have become so common and their advances so fast that I would no longer stop and reflect on how they have changed my life and the lives of people around me.
I did notice that communication, which has long migrated to online, made genuine face-to-face interactions between people less comfortable. The ability to edit and rewrite took spontaneity out of first dates and friendly conversations. Being always “on” within someone’s reach, at least on one platform or messenger, has proven to be anxiety-inducing. Apart from that, there is a mentally straining tug of war between keeping up with the world and keeping it private. I was wondering whether what I observed was a series of isolated events or a part of a broader tendency.
As Turkle has shown in her book, my ideas do have a foundation in data and research. I learned that technology has indeed transformed and keeps on transforming human communication and relationships. Remarkably, the arguments that Turkle provides to support this point of view are from being technophobic. Instead, the author gives a well-balanced perspective that sheds light on some of the advantages of technology in terms of increasing the quality of human life.
I am convinced that works, such as Alone Together, are vital to comprehending the world of today, mostly because there is no coming back to how it was before the rise of the digital. Unlike drugs or alcohol, social media use is a bad habit only when left unattended; otherwise, it is a part of life that needs more understanding and scientific vigor.
Conclusion
Alone Together is a well-written and gripping book, which can be the wake-up call for everyone living in today’s digital world. The three selected chapters shed light on the consequences of technology use without any limits and moderation. While social media and mobile phones have made society more interconnected, instead of real closeness, people are now dealing with control and the need to be “always on.” At the same time, face-to-face time communication is shrinking and becoming replaced by texting.
Arguably, the lack of practice in synchronous communication can make people less socially successful. Lastly, social media and technology may become a source of depression and anxiety. The reasons range from exposure to other people’s idealized online representations to revenge porn.
Works Cited
Ankel, Sophia. “Many Revenge Porn Victims Consider Suicide – Why Aren’t Schools Doing More to Stop It?” The Guardian. 2018. Web.
Huang, Xi. “Improving Communicative Competence through Synchronous communication in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environments: A Systematic Review.” Education Sciences, vol. 8, no. 1, 2018, p. 15.
Jay, Meg. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter–And How to Make the Most of Them Now. Hachette UK, 2012.
Miltner, Kate M., and Tim Highfield. “Never Gonna GIF You Up: Analyzing the Cultural Significance of the Animated GIF.” Social Media+ Society, vol. 3, no. 3, 2017, p. 2056305117725223.
Thomée, Sara, et al. “Mobile Phone Use and Stress, Sleep Disturbances, and Symptoms of Depression among Young Adults-A Prospective Cohort Study.” BMC Public Health, vol. 11, no. 1, 2011, p. 66.
Turkle, Sherry. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. New York: BASIC BOOKS, 2012.
Woods, Heather Cleland, and Holly Scott. “# Sleepyteens: Social Media Use in Adolescence Is Associated With Poor Sleep Quality, Anxiety, Depression and Low Self-esteem.” Journal of adolescence 51 (2016): 41-49.
Xu, Shan, Zheng Joyce Wang, and Prabu David. “Media Multitasking and Well-being of University Students.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 55, 2016, pp. 242-250.
Zaleski, Kristen. “Revenge Porn Is Sexual Violence, Not Millennial Negligence.” The Conversation. 2019. Web.