Technology. We hear this word every day. The introduction of technological instruments has surely improved lots of aspects in our lives but, on the other side, has deteriorated the relationship among people. The invention and application of new technologies has helped men to increase and speed up production in industries, to open new horizons in the world of science such as the exploration and observation of space, the researches in medicine and also to simplify communication. The diffusion of social networks has permitted to virtually link the whole world.
But is the virtual world a valid way to communicate and create relationships with other people? We know that communication can be divided in verbal, non-verbal and para-verbal. When we talk to someone verbal communication is efficient at the 7%, the 93% is made of factors as the volume and tonality of the voice, the gesture, the position, the facial expression.
Chatting on our smartphone make this 93% disappear and the communication becomes incomplete. We can’t understand how a person feels or reacts. This creates misunderstandings but it is also an opportunity to act easily in situations that would be difficult in real life.
When we chat we are anonymous or, anyway, hidden by a screen or a nickname.
These factors make social networks a dangerous instrument if it isn’t used in a correct way. Information circulates very fast on the Internet and an extra-word, an embarrassing video or photo can reach lots of people in a very short time without a way back. The problem is that the ones that have not the bravery to act in real life are not stopped by the reaction of the victim because they can’t see him.
On the contrary the opportunity to hide behind the screen often leads to an absence of communication in real life. Walking around the streets we can see that almost everyone is on the cellular phone, we use it so often that it seems that everything we do is in function of the social networks. We are totally absorbed by the Internet and we are forgetting to live a real life.
Francesca Ferraro, 3 B scientifico
