It can be argued that modern tools of communication have improved communication among many types of people, such as colleagues separated over long distances, or friends who want to keep in touch regularly. Texting, cell phones, e-mail, and social networking sites such as Facebook make it possible to keep up with friends who live far away. A study conducted by Cambridge University in England, for example, found that Facebook improved people's social skills (please see the link below).
However, it can also be argued that the types of communication that these tools facilitate can be superficial if that's what the user wants. In other words, reading another person's posts on Facebook can be passive and superficial. This type of communication doesn't mean that someone is really engaging in the reciprocity necessary for developing a deeper friendship. True friendship means sharing to some degree, and simply passively reading another person's posts does not mean a person is engaging in true friendship. That is why it could be argued that modern communication does not truly create intimate friendships, though each person's experience with these tools differs. Some people use Facebook and e-mail to convey intimate details of their lives, while many people simply friend others and do not communicate with them in any depth.
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