Cyberpessimists vs Cyberoptimists

Fathom

Does Internet damage social relationships? Or improve? Social Brain Hypothesis suggests cognitive face-to-face relationship size limitations. Addresses how many relationships can you maintain? Recent R. I. M. Dunbar study claims offline social networks expanded by online relationships. Are more relationships better? Does size matter? Or superficial? Optimistic or pessimistic for relationships? Ref: Jason Lederman (2016), Popular Science, "Surprise! Your Facebook Friends Aren’t Your Friends In Real Life."

Black Swan

Teens send over 3,000 text messages per month, while 10% of age 25 or under think it's fine to text while having sex. Is there "Cell-fishness" occurring and increasing with mobile use today, or is this yet another misunderstanding between generations (e.g., Baby Boom, Gen-X, Millennials, etc.)? Sue Johnson in How Gadgets Ruin Relationships and Corrupt Emotions (Wired 2014) suggests that there was trouble brewing for social relationships. She appears to be one of your "cyberpessimists."

Fathom

Internet can help or harm. No simple answers. Complex topic. Many variables. Some intervening. Study of 222 seniors in Sydney. Concludes that Internet can enhance social capital and feelings of wellbeing. Or not. Internet two-edged sword. Awareness on Internet use key. Can be harmful for those seniors unaware of use. Ref: Sum, S., et al. Internet Technology and Social Capital:How the Internet Affects Seniors’ Social Capital and Wellbeing, Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, Volume 14, Issue 1, October 2008, pp 202-220.

mzungu

Shelly Turkle (2011) would not be too optimistic of the current path we are going down. She believes technology is not a sufficient replacement for everyday interactions with people, it is pseudo-communication that never quite comes close to the real thing. An over dependence on technology for communication, leaves us feeling alienated and unable to communicate meaningfully with one another. This manifests itself in the form of shallow relationships and an unhealthy reliance on the validation of others, in order to gain self-esteem. However this self-esteem is itself fleeting as it is constantly at the whim of others, leading to an overall sense of less independence.

Turkle, S (2011). Alone Together. Basic Books.

Fathom

Millennials profile per Atlantic 2014. Generation "intricately and consistently connected via social media." Generational differences? Not harmful for them?