The Impact of Digital technology psychological Effects on Interpersonal Relationships and Cognitive Function
Question
Task: How has Digital technology psychological Effects, particularly smartphones and the internet, affected interpersonal relationships and cognitive abilities?
Answer
'Alone Together' - Sherry Turkle
Digital technology psychological Effects has been termed as the most important creation in recent history. Today most people depend on their smartphones to perform tasks and keep in touch with family and friends but Digital technology psychological Effects has also attracted some serious concerns. This has led to damaging interpersonal relationships among people which have been sighted as being among the main concern (Turkle's 2012).
According to Sherry Turkles’ book 'Alone Together'; Digital technology psychological Effects are directly linked to severely damaging interpersonal relationships among people today. This is happening to the entire population and even affecting family’s relationships. Today it has become quite common to find family members preoccupied with their smartphones and not interaction and communication despite living under the same roof. This on its own demonstrates the severity of the situation which needs to be addressed by the community immediately.
Smartphone have been linked to Digital technology psychological Effects like damaging interpersonal relationships which has devastated relationships among people today who are opting to keep themselves updates on social media rather than meet in person. The social media has therefore effectively damaged many relationships today and people have lost their desire for intimacy within relationships and prefer maintaining companionship. The social media has brought alone many benefits by delivering free communication but it has had a major effect on how people relate to each other. Many people today have lost the desire meet in person due to the social media and mass communication platforms. This side effect related to the social media was not anticipated but recent research and studies conducted by Sherry Turkle and other researchers clearly show the social media has a direct negative effect on interpersonal relationships.
Digital technology psychological Effects are also a major concern among communities and one which needs to be addressed immediately so as to safe guard and protect future generations. The books have delivered in-depth research and finding related to the effects of the social media on the community and people in general but these concerns need to be addressed in public so as to ensure the concern does not continue escalating and affecting more people.
To address this concern it’s important for the community heads to be educated regarding the risks involved with social media. The social media is therefore actually building major differences and divisions among communities, friends and family whereby no one want to meet in person. This is happening because of constant daily updating of photos which comments which keeps friends and family updated regarding each other’s experiences which eliminates the desire to meeting in person
‘The web shatters focus, rewires brains' - Nicholas Carr
Nicholas Carr has published a book the web shatters focus, by rewiring the brain. This is related to the effects the internet has on the human brain and how people think. The book describes the research study done by Gary Small which involved 6 volunteers and three experiments to measure the effects of the internet and computer technology on the way people think and maintain their focus. The book describes the effects of how the internet affects the human brain and the side effects it has on individuals thinking and their perception.
An increasing number of people are exposed to the internet and spending long hours surfing and working on computers and the internet. This has also led to an increase in the effects on how people think and can be expected to increase. The brain automatically becomes lazier when delivered with a simpler way out thus people are falling in to this trap thus making it important to raise this concern well in advance to help safeguard how people think and how they can maintaining their mental strength (Carr 2010).
This is a major concern since the brain is actually not developing as people due to many people opting to find solutions online rather brain storm. With critical thinking and problem solving reducing among people today, the brains function has also been reduced among many people. On other people, the internet is actually exposing too much information and knowledge to people which are leading to confusion and inability nor desire to perform work or be innovative. This is due to people sharing their knowledge and other uncontrollable desire to acquire the knowledge which is also creating problems.
Similar to Digital technology psychological Effects the internet deliver major benefits to the community but when misused it has devastating effects on the community. According to Nicholas Carr, The web shatters focus and rewires the brain to becoming lazier and unable to think and resolve problems. This is due to solution being readily availed online this depleting the brains capacity and leading to people underutilizing their mind as compared to the past.
References
Carr, Nicholas. The web shatters focus, rewires brains. Wired, 2010.
Turkle's, Sherry. Connected but Alone? TED Talk, 2012.
