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Sonni Vargas
English 91/ Filbeck
8 December 2014
My Computer Is My Best Friend
Does social media isolate people and cut off relationships? Many people are often
too caught up with the attention from their friends on social networking sites that they
feel their followers are all they need. When people only focus on communicating with
their followers online they often isolate themselves from the rest of the world. It is
important for people to not be too invested in social media. If someone is too invested in
social media they will not only lose their communication and social skills, but they will
also lose contact with their real life friends. Instead of messaging someone on Facebook
or text messaging, it is important that people maintain their communication and social
skills in person because these skills are used everyday in many different situations.
Because social media is progressing, people are not communicating with others face to
face and are losing vital communication skills, therefore social media is causing isolation.
Social networking sites and text messaging is becoming more popular as
technology is quickly advancing. Popular websites such as Facebook and Twitter have
become an essential part of communication. People use these websites to keep in touch
with family and friends. According to Aaron Smith, a senior researcher for the Pew
Research Paper states that, Roughly two thirds of social media users say that staying in
touch with current friends and family is a major reason they use these sites, while half say
that connecting with old friends theyve lost touch with is a major reason behind their use
of these technologies(Smith). Text messaging is just the same when it comes to keeping
in touch with family and friends. It has helped people get through the awkward stage of

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talking to people for the first time without having to actually meet them in person. With
all of the advances in technology, social networking sites and text messaging have made
communicating with others quicker and easier than it has ever been before. This form of
communication has become an easier way to talk to people without actually having to go
see them face-to-face.
People are not communicating with people face-to-face as much as they used to as
social media is becoming more and more popular. While social media has made it easier
for people to communicate with others virtually all over the world, it is also making it
hard for people to communicate with others in real life. People are making thousands of
friends online and are building personal and/or professional relationships. After they meet
people online they then take it to their cell phones. Nowadays relationships are built
through text messages. People are too shy to meet people face-to-face anymore because
they believe it helps people not go through the awkward stage of getting to know people
in person. Jeffrey Kluger from Time magazine states, Habitual texters may not only
cheat their existing relationships, they can also limit their ability to form future ones since
they dont get to practice the art of interpreting nonverbal visual cues(Kluger). Not
talking to others face-to-face is harming people because even though they feel they have
a relationship with a certain person through a phone or computer, they are actually alone.
If people continue to only build and maintain relationships online or through text
messages they will eventually lose their real life friendships. Nowadays people are too
preoccupied with their online friends that they are losing real life relationships. They feel
as though their Facebook friends and Twitter followers are all they need. Because people
are spending too much time on the Internet and their phones, they do not make an effort

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to go out and spend time/have a face-to-face conversation with their real life friends. Joe
Robinson states, Because of social media people have fewer close confidants outside
family members more than ever(Robinson). By not stepping away from the computer to
go out into the real world to communicate with others, people are ruining friendships. If
people continue to lose relationships this way they will end up alone. Continuing to ruin
relationships like this will cause people to not be able to make friends in the real world.
Not only is social media causing isolation between friendships, but it is also
putting relationships at risk. Back in the day couples did not meet on Twitter or
Facebook. People actually went out to get a date. Nowadays people are finding other
people online and relationships are solely built on websites and text messaging. The
problem with that is that couples are not building their relationships and seeing each other
face-to-face anymore. Nowadays dates are through each others phones and computers.
Times are different now in society than it was back then. With couples not
communicating face-to-face, it is hard to keep a relationship going, therefore putting their
love lives at risk.
People are finding it harder to make friends outside of social media. With social
networking sites and text messaging making it easier to talk to people, it is causing
people to forget how to meet new people in real life. People are becoming too isolated
from the real world and do not have the skills to build relationships without a computer or
a cell phone anymore. It is starting to become normal in society to be alone and not
interact with as many people as they used to. According to Yukio Strachan, he states,
The isolation was always there and new technology only brought it to light(Stratchan). If

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people thought making friends was hard before it is even harder now due to the advances
in social media.
People are losing important social and communication skills because of social
networking sites and text messaging. With people only communicating with others
through a computer or phone nowadays they are not able to communicate in person.
Those who are losing their communication and social skills will only hurt them in the
long run. For example, if someone has an interview for a job and they are shy the whole
time during the interview or show a lack in communication skills, that person will most
likely not get the job. The evolution of social media is affecting future generations when
it comes to making new friends and finding jobs. According to wisdompetals.com states,
Children are unable to learn how to properly and efficiently communicate their feelings
and thoughts and with the real world. It is mainly due to not having the chance to fully
develop their communication skills in an open environment(Unknown). Although social
media has made some great advances over time, it is also hurting people in the long run.
Social media is corrupting this societys social skills, therefore causing isolation.
The popularity of social networking sites makes it easier for people to avoid
confrontation with others. Because they are starting to no communicate face-to-face
anymore they are losing friendships and vital communication skills. It is important to not
let social media corrupt societys way of communicating because real life relationships
will last. Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and text messages wont be there forever.
Good communication and social skills will last a lifetime.

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Works Cited
Hampton, Keith, Lauren S. Goublet, Her J. Eun, and Rainie Lee. "Social Isolation and
New Technology." Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS.
N.p., 4 Nov. 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.pewinternet.org/2009/11/04/social-isolation-and-newtechnology/>.
Kluger, Jeffrey. "We Never Talk Anymore: The Problem with Text Messaging |
TIME.com." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://techland.time.com/2012/08/16/we-never-talk-anymore-the-problemwith-text-messaging/>.
Robinson, Joe. "Is Social Networking Destroying Our Social Lives?" The Huffington
Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 01 Feb. 2011. Web. 18 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-robinson/socialnetwork_b_816108.html>.
Smith, Aaron. "Why Americans Use Social Media." Pew Research Centers Internet
American Life Project RSS. N.p., 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/11/15/why-americans-use-social-media/>.
"Social Media:How It Is Destroying You." Social Media:How It Is Destroying You. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://www.wisdompetals.com/index.php/scienceand-technology/internet-and-media/144-social-media-how-it-is-destroyingyou>.

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Strachan, Yukio. "Does Social Media Cause a More Isolated Society?" Does Social
Media Cause a More Isolated Society? N.p., 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/322982>.