Do you think modern tools of communication, such as the Internet, have hindered or improved the development of relationships? Does this vary for...

Modern forms of communication, including the Internet, have had a mixed effect on relationships in general. The Internet, including the use of various forms of social media, has allowed people to stay in contact with each other much easier. With various social media sites, such as Facebook, it is very easy to keep track of what your acquaintances are doing. Without the Internet, many of these connections would very likely be lost. The Internet has also made it easier for people to find and to develop intimate relationships with people whom they very likely wouldn’t have ever met. Internet dating sites have become very popular. It allows people to have a greater opportunity to find a lifelong partner. Studies have shown that Internet dating has increased marriage rates. Thus, there is evidence to suggest that the Internet can enhance both casual and intimate relationships.

The Internet also can have a negative impact on relationships. The Internet can be a very impersonal tool. People develop friendships without ever really knowing the people they have met online. People have used the Internet to say harmful things about other people. Some people have used the Internet to avoid confrontations. Some people have used the Internet to end an intimate relationship. There is no substitute for seeing a facial expression, looking at body language, or feeling the gentle touch or a hug from a person. You can’t get these images or feelings from the Internet.

The Internet can also make it hard to get to know a person. I am answering your question, yet I know nothing about you. You know nothing about me. I answer your question, and we both move on with our lives. If we were face to face in the classroom, we would have a better understanding of each other. We often deal with people in a virtual world. This creates a very impersonal environment. People who work online without ever seeing the people with whom they interact, miss out on a dynamic that exists in the workplace. The connections are casual at best. There is a big difference between working directly with people that you see and know compared to working with somebody that you have never met. People may have 1,500 Facebook friends, but how many real friendships do they really have?

The Internet has had both positive and negative impacts on relationships.