Overall, the development of information technologies can significantly facilitate the communication between people who no longer have to be separated from each other. For example, they can better overcome such an obstacle as long distances which created many problems several decades ago. To some degree, these information tools can transform the planet into a global village.
Nevertheless, new technologies can significantly impair the relations between individuals who often prefer to interact with one another only in front of computer screens. To some degree, this behavior gradually becomes normal. In turn, the main problem is that the number of face-to-face interactions decreases; as a result, people have to struggle with such difficulties as the lack of confidence and alienation. This is the main thesis that should be discussed in greater detail.
Overall, researchers note that people, who increasingly rely on technologies, often suffer from alienation. For instance, many individuals can attach importance to the number of friends that they have on Facebook or other social networks (Lambert 2). The problem is that these virtual relations often lack the essential components of friendship such as trust.
This is why such people have to cope with such psychological problems as insecurity and alienation. In many cases, these people have a distorted understanding of friendship and personal relations, in general. Moreover, they are reluctant to be engaged in face-to-face interactions. As a result, their psychological problems only aggravate. This is one of the aspects that can be singled out.
Additionally, in many cases, people, who are accustomed to communicating in front of computer screens often, lack confidence, especially when they need to communicate without the assistance of online technologies (Wright and Vebb 89). This issue is particularly important if one speaks about people struggling with anxiety and shyness (Wright and Vebb 89).
Additionally, they cannot overcome their dependence on online technologies. Very often, such people require the assistance of professional counselors in order to elaborate their social skills. This is one of the main details that can be distinguished because it is important for understanding the long-term effects of technologies on people’s communication and their emotional state.
Finally, researchers often focus on such a trend as the reduction of face-to-face communication. This tendency can manifest itself in various areas of human activities such as workplace relations (Watt 42). As a result, the interactions between managers and employees can be impaired because these people do not always understand the expectations of one another.
This is one of the reasons why managers have to design new methods of communication in order to ensure the efficiency of performance. This is another pitfall that cannot be disregarded because it shows that the decline of personal contacts can influence the professional activities of people. Thus, one should not suppose that this trend does not have any significant implications.
On the whole, this discussion suggests that despite the benefits that technologies can bring to individuals, one should not forget about the detrimental effects that they produce on the experiences of people. Much attention should be paid the feeling of alienation experienced by people and their lack of confidence during personal contacts. To some degree, this problem can be attributed to the decline of face-to-face interactions. In many cases, these issues can influence various areas, such as workplace relations. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.
Works Cited
Lambert, Alexander. Intimacy and Friendship on Facebook, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Print.
Watt, Alisa. The Impact of Managerial Virtuality on Employee Performance, New York: ProQuest, 2007. Print.
Wright, Kevin and Lynne Vebb. Computer-mediated Communication in Personal Relationships, New York: Peter Lang, 2011. Print.