Steven Johnson mentions the lack of communication between people due to the use of technology such as iPod, cell phones, and laptops in the article “Social Connections”. Johnson is a writer for publications such as Wired, and New York Times Magazine. He gives an example a cab ride taken by a writer named Thomas Friedman who’s driver was talking on the phone and watching a movie while at the same time. Whereas Friedman was wring a column for the paper and listing to his iPod. Johnson concludes that while face-to-face encounters are important the web gives better opportunities to meet new people. While I agree with Johnson that face-to-face encounters are important I don’t believe that the web gives better opportunities to meet new people.
Today with new websites that are focused on meeting new people such as Facebook, not everyone you meet is a reliable person. Today, with Facebook, employers can view future employee’s profiles and see pictures, which has been a known problem about network sites. Johnson mentions Along with this issue, teens have been common users of iPods and cellular phones. Texting in class, and during meals, teens tend to text to friends more than talking to the one on one. As a teen I find it incredibly annoying when people are texting when you are trying to talk to them or listening to music at the same time you are in a conversation. Growing up I was never allowed to have my phone at the dinner table and the television was never on during dinner. This caused for my family and I to have conversations at the dinner table. Technology never got in the way of a one-to-one conversation with my family or my friends, so I disagree with Johnson that the web or technology gives better opportunities to meet new people. People need to get off their cell phones and observe the world around them.
I agree that the Internet and better technology seems to get in the way of personal interactions between people. While Johnson makes a few good arguments that new technology creates newer interactions between people. It removes the user from the face-to-face conversation aspect of social interaction. Also Johnson makes an argument that new technology and social media websites creates new social opportunities. However it ties the user to their technology and with other users around the world. It doesn’t allow for much social growth within their immediate environment. There is still importance for personal face-to-face encounters because many people uses these skills in the workplace and in school. Though over use of technology and social networking websites are slowly removing these important skills from many teens and users. It is best to find a balance in life between using new technology and having face-to-face interactions with new and current friends.
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