Internet and personal relationships

Internet and Personal Relationships

The Internet has had a profound affect on all aspects of life and especially on the way that we communicate and interact with one another. The possibilities of the Internet have also revolutionized personal relationships in many instances. Numerous commentators claim that the Internet has created new ways, methods and styles of interaction and that this has far-reaching implications in terms of the way that personal relationships are created and conducted. This paper will discuss some of the positive as well as the negative aspects of the Internet and personal relationships.

In the first instance, the internet is all about communication. In other words, the primary function of the Internet is to facilitate easy access to information and to enable rapid and effective modes of communication. Since its inception, the Internet has shown remarkable growth and an increase in technologies that can provide more user-friendly and effective means of communication. This refers in particular to the advent of online forums, chat rooms and, more recently, the increasing popularity of social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.

As one study in this subject notes;

Technologies such as the Internet; email; instant messenger and cell phones allow people to develop both "core ties" and "significant ties" at a more global level. Core ties are defined social contacts involving a very close relationship with a person. Significant ties are people somewhat closely connected to an individual. (Burns, 2006)

Both core or intimate relationship as well as " significant " relationships are therefore facilitated by the Internet through many different technologies and programs and these can lead to the development of personal ties and interaction. Pundits are also of the opinion that the Internet in fact changes the very way relationships are created via communications and that "...discussion is now conducted one-on-one on cell phones and in personal email accounts" (Burns, 2006). Many commentators suggest that at present social networking is the future of the Internet with regard to the extremely easy facilities these sites provide to share and develop relationships with others, according to interests and other categories of experience. This has a related impact on the issue of personal relationships.

At first glance, these developments seem to be entirely positive in terms of the development and maintenance of personal relationships. Using social networks, email and other forms of interaction, personal relationships can be created and developed across a virtually unlimited range of contacts and with people in any country or culture. This increase in the possibilities for personal relationships is evidenced in many studies.

As new communication networks are scanning the world, people are using technology not only in business, industry, education or communication, but as a social tool that is linking together people all across the globe" (Module 3: Online Personal Relationships).

Another positive aspect of online communication is that it allows people who are not able to interact with others through conventional means to develop personal relationships and contacts. This includes those people who are ill or who are forced to remain at home. In essence,:....people who may have not been able to get out of their homes, work unusual hours, or those with restricted lifestyles may find online situations particularly attractive" (Module 3: Online Personal Relationships).

Another advantage is that the Internet transcends social and class barriers to a great extent; so that people who would in the past not have interacted and developed relationship can now quite easily communicate and develop bonds ands friendships. Some theorists argue that, "...the use of e-mail enables people who are peripheral in groups to become more visible. This means that people of lower status can easily communicate with those of higher status" (Module 3: Online Personal Relationships).

Another category that benefits from the Internet in terms of personal relationships is those who prefer not to interact with others conventionally due to fear or a perception that going out into society is dangerous. In an article entitled Social anxiety, Internet use and personal relationships on the Internet (2004), Nishimura states that, "People who had a high level of trait social anxiety, especially those under twenty years of age, were highly motivated to use the Internet for the formation of personal relationships" (Nishimura, 2004, p.124).

However, despite these positive aspects, many pundits do not always see the Internet as an ideal platform for the development of personal relationships. The study referred to above by Nishimura also states that, "Total evaluation of Internet communication was not as favorable as that for face-to-face communication" (Nishimura, 2004, p.124). Many negative aspects need to be considered in terms of online relationships. Critics of online relationships point to an obvious downside; namely that these are "virtual" relationships and they lack that immediacy and intimacy of interpersonal face-face contact.

One of the central arguments against online relationship is that this form of relationship leads to a reduction of social cues. In other words, cues that are important in normal human relationships, for example physical cues such as body movements, facial expressions and appearance, are missing from the online environment. This results in a reduction of necessary information that is required in a relationship between two people; which in turn prevents 'normal' and sold relationships from developing. However, this view is countered by commentators who are of the opinion that even if individuals in an online relationship have not met face-to-face in the conventional sense, this does not necessarily mean significant or core relationships cannot develop. (Lea and Spears, 1995)