Assist with the improvement of technology, social media is rapidly advancing and

becoming common in people’s daily life. Wang (2016) reports that, a set of social

norms have developed regarding the usage of social media. Therefore, social media

becomes an essential part of user’s life routine, as if it is always be with them.

Different aspects of life are shaped gradually by social media. As Joo and Teng

(2017) point out, the impacts of technology on interpersonal relationships perhaps

are more obvious than gender or culture. Apps such as Facebook, Wechat, and

Weibo are immersing in user’s everyday communication that changed the way of

exchange and pushed people to rethink the pros and cons of social media. Through

social media, people build better relationship among family members, sharing their

lives and extend their interpersonal relationships (Joo and Teng, 2017). However,

unreliable information, less psychical communication, losing motivation, and

loneliness have brought new crises since people participate in social media.

Therefore, this essay will argue that social media does not improve communication

due to the decline in interpersonal relationships, negative impacts bring to the

teenager, and interfering private lives.

Opponents argue that online communication could build better relationship and

enhance social cohesion. For example, Facebook is a convenient platform for new

friends where users start new relationships without distance, language, and social

background limits. People could see how others respond on Facebook and the

reasons why lead to failed communication that strengthens people’s ability to

communicate. The world has become smaller in terms of global interaction, but

interpersonal relationships have become wider in terms of online interaction. In other

words, the advent of 5G makes online communication not only typing or phoning.

According to Joo and Teng (2017), those who communicate online formed

relationships more frequently which means social media extend interpersonal

relationships in a way. However, the problems hidden in the simple and convenient

Internet interaction are often overlooked. As Joo and Teng (2017) point out that the

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principle of immediacy creates effective communication. Immediacy means attraction

to others and togetherness. In other words, it means psychological closeness and

openness are difficult to achieve through online communication. Wang (2016)

asserts that a belief about friends in social media is ‘the more the better’. for

instance, some users claims that make more friends is the purpose of using social

media. However, they overlook the quality of relationships and psychological

closeness. Relationships start from the contact stage that is a significant step to

create a perception of a person with knowing him or her physically. Somehow, online

perception is formed through meaning and online signals without physical evaluation

(Joo and Teng, 2017). However, messages and signals could be interpreted in

different ways that make communication ambiguous especially in online intercultural

communication, misunderstanding and failed communication may be the

consequences (Devito, 2008 cited in Joo and Teng, 2017, p. 29 ). Moreover, with

technology taking control over a family, the way families interact has changed. After

one-on-one communication is weakened, social media helps people who prefer to

escape from negative communication which causes severe impacts on family

relationships. Therefore, Apart from the convenience brought by social media, the

decrease of one-on-one communication, the decline of communication quality, and

excessive reliance on social media are the problems that need to be solved urgently

Another common objection is that social media helps teenagers to better

communicate with the outside world, communicate with their classmates outside

school, expand social relations and cultivate their communicative abilities. Martin et

al. (2018) state that as adolescents are engaged in technology at a young age, more

schools carry out ‘bring your own devices’ initiatives. Thus, Students are more likely

and more frequent to use social media. It provides opportunities for students to

participate in online communities that foster knowledge, creativity, and civic

participation (Martin et al., 2018). for example, students could communicate with

their classmates outside school, find volunteering opportunities and political events.

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However, students are often vulnerable groups among social media users. Although

they have benefited from it, the hidden dangers should not be ignored. Teenagers in

the 2010s (vs. previous generations) spent less time on face-to-face social

interaction including socializing with friends, dating and going to movies. Teenagers

who high in using social media and low in communicating face-to-face lead to

loneliness which increased after 2011 (Twenge, Spitzberg and Campbell 2019).

Moreover, as social media goes deeper into people's lives, media to use is no more

much dominated by either cost or access, instead, it became a moral and social

choice. According to Martin et al. (2018), the negative impact of digital footprints

and cyberbullying completely cause a great threat to young people's Internet access.

Overall, teenagers should be more cautious in their attitude towards social media.

Opponents argue that for many people the use of social media is a modern extension

of social support. For example, social media enable people struggling with life to find

out someone going through the same situations (Replogle, 2014). Users could find

people similar to them through the content shared by others on social media, join

organizations and even find a sense of belonging. For instance, mothers get together

to discuss topics related to babies and toddlers, and veterans could form small

groups to talk to each other. However, The information shared on social media is

fragmented and often embellished. The discernment of users may be easily

confused, and the speed of Internet transmission is extremely fast, which will bring

negative effects to individuals’ life and even society. Joo and Teng (2017) found that

the longer people log on Facebook, the more they believe others have a better life

than they do. It causes them to look down on their families or friends and leads to

negative relationships. Moreover, what is shared on social media is often private life,

which also leads to users' personal information being infringed. To sum up, social

media use should remain public lives and private lives separately.

In conclusion, this essay has argued that social media does not improve

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communication from close interpersonal relationships, the impacts bring to the

teenager and private lives three aspects. In addition, Different aspects of life are

shaped gradually by social media. Users increasingly rely on media to meet their

social needs and information acquisition needs, but they are supposed to know that

social media should not be abused. Therefore, Social media should be an extension

of daily life, not a replacement for it. Different groups should know the limits of

social media use. For example, teenagers should use social media to cultivate

hobbies and communication skills, families should use social media to communicate,

and adults should use social media to expand communication instead of letting

games and complex information occupy all their lives. Finding a balance between

social media and real life is a long-term concern.

(1149 words)

References list:

Joo,T. & Teng, C. (2017) ‘Impacts of social media (Facebook) on human

communication and relationships: a view on behavioral change and social unity’,

International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology , 7(4), pp.

27–50. doi: 10.5865/IJKCT.2017.7.4.027

Martin, F. et al. (2018) ‘Educational Technology & Society’, Middle School Students’

Social Media Use, 21(1), PP. 213-224.

Replogle, E. (2014) ‘Sociological Forum’, Fame, Social Media Use, and Ethics, 29(3),

pp. 736-742. doi: 10. 1111 /socf. 121 12

Twenge, J. M., Spitzberg, B. H. and Campbell, W. K. (2019) ‘Less in-person social

interaction with peers among U.S. adolescents in the 21st century and links to

loneliness’, Journal of Social & Personal Relationships , 36(6), pp. 1892–1913. doi:

10.1177/0265407519836170

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Wang, X.Y. (2016) Social Media in Industrial China: Social media and social

relationships. London: UCL press.