Term Paper on "Internet and Personal Relationships"

Term Paper 3 pages (1153 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

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… READ MORE

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