How Technology Makes Us better Social Beings free essay sample

In â€Å"How Technology Makes Us better Social Beings† Megan Gambino (2011) believes that although there are some research shows technology is harmful to people’s public relationship, there are more studies prove that technology can build more relationship for people. The author lists many different researches about both negative and positive effects of technology. Gambino is trying to let the reader believe the technologies have benefits to human’s social relationship. I have doubt on both side of Gambino’s opinion. Gambino builds a hypothesis about the adverse impacts of technologies by showing Robert Putnam’s concern in his book and the study from University of Arizona and Duke University. Those researches show that American people’s communication with others declines about 30 to 50 percentage. However, Gambino uses Keith Hampton’s average technology using frequency research and his internet communication research in public places show that the development of technology not only didn’t reduce people’s relationship but also increase people’s frequency of interaction with others. We will write a custom essay sample on How Technology Makes Us better Social Beings or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He also shows the report of Wilson’s family daily life reflects that technologies don’t drop family’s communication, which against the research from University of Arizona and Duke University. In his article Gambino writes about the influence of technology about people’s relationship and participation of social issues. He writes, â€Å"He surveyed 2,255 American adults this past fall and published his results in a study last month. ‘We’ve found the exact opposite—that people who use sites like Facebook actually have more close relationships and are more likely to be involved in civic and political activities. ’ † Gambino uses this Hampton’s research shows people have more interaction with other about their life or social problems and policies. I agree with the part about people are more tend to join political engagement as the internet develops. Before the internet is invented, people can participate in political activities by contacted with government officer or write a paper letter. Those methods have some inconvenient problems. For example it is hard to protect the privacy of whistleblowers when they have to meet with a government officer. Furthermore, it is difficult for old people to travel long distance from home to government office. While paper letters can be lost or ignored in various links. As technology develops, internet can help people solve those problems, so that people will have more willingness to take part in political activities. In â€Å"Civic Engagement in the Digital Age† by Aaron Smith (2013) lists the data about the ways people involved in civic activities. He shows that about 39 percent of adult participators still use the traditional way to participate civic activities and 34 percent of adults doing the same thing through internet. That shows internet encourages people join the politicking. However, I hold an opposite opinion with Gambino about technology make us have more close relationships. Gambino writes, â€Å"They are not alone in the true sense because they are interacting with very diverse people through social networking websites, e-mail, video conferencing, Skype, instant messaging and a multitude of other ways. â€Å" Gambino uses Hampton’s researches to states that people can build more relationship through social networks. He also cites the report of Wilson’s family life as an example of good family relationship maintained by technology. First, I think when people begin to use social networks as one of their communication way, they will have to take time on internet. Relatively the time they spend with their friends in real life will be reduced. Maybe they can build some relationship via internet, but also they could loss some relationship in real life. Then I have a doubted about the quality of the internet relationship. Depends on the current technology, internet communication is still virtual. We cannot to feel the real emotion of the person on the other end of computer. Even we can have some true friend through internet, I do not think we can maintain a friendship only by some social networks. Sometimes a real hug is more than ten beautiful sentences. If he turned off his phone and computer you will lose him forever. So I doubted about internet relationship. Gambino mainly wants to let people believe technologies can help to integrate a person into society even though some people remain skeptical. I agree with him about technology may encourage people participate in political activities, but I disagree with him about social networks can increase and maintain our social relationships. The social networks still have many problems should be solved.