Unit 3 - Section A: Globalisation - Impact of digital forms of communication on relationships Flashcards
Granovetter
The strength of ties between two people can be judged by examining: amount of time spent together, emotional intensity, level of intimacy, degree of reciprocity. People have strong ties with close friends and families, but weak ties with those who are considered acquaintances. However, weak ties are just as important as sometimes lead to connections between members of networks, connect people who they may not normally have many commonalities with, so helps increase social networks. If weak ties were removed, a person’s social network may face considerable damage, in comparison to if lost strong ties. E.g. helps to expand hobbies, work experience, etc.
Zhao
The use of internet activities that involve helping people connect e.g. email, chat, social media, have positive effects on social ties that can strengthen relationships between people. This is as opposed to more individual activities e.g. surfing the internet has more negative impact on relationships.
Kraut
Critiqued work in 1990s that suggested that the internet was negative impact on people’s relationships as they found that the internet played a key role in maintaining and developing social ties. However, online social ties are weaker than those offline, showing no negative impact.
Feld
People use social networks as away of evaluative both themselves and others, stating that an individual’s identity is partly shaped by friendship networks that are created and maintained. E.g. Snapchat.
Shaw and Gant
As more connect to the internet, researchers examine effects of internet on psychological health. Internet positively correlated with depression, leading to previous public opinion that the media is negative. They tested the hypothesis that internet usage effects users beneficially - 5 chat sessions, with anonymous partner, 3 different intervals administered scales, changes tracked overtime. This decreased loneliness and depression significantly, perceived social support and self esteem increase. Older people are loneliest social group, so having social media may have benefits e.g. Portal.
Turkle
Psychologist at MIT, was on cover of Wired Magazine to detail how new social and mobile technologies were going to make lives better, enabling us to learn more about ourselves. 17 years later, wrote book ‘Alone Together’ to show how troubled she feels toward the way we used technology. Previous thought it would have a positive impact as believed what we learned in a virtual work about ourselves and identity, could lead to living better in real life. However, unusual behaviour is becoming normalised e.g. texting at funeral, corporate meetings, etc. We can opt in and out of interactions - ‘Goldilocks Effect’ so can control it as and when suits us. This poses a risk as set ourselves up for trouble in how relate to one another, and capacity for self-reflection. ‘Alone Together’ suggests that although together in society, growing apart and increasing alone and distracted by phones. Human relationships retouched by technology - conversation is sacrificed for connection.
Miller
‘Why We Post’ + ‘Trials from Facebook’- study into Facebook usage, positive and negative consequences. Marriages breaking up as exposed to content, messages and a range of relations. Public profiles reduce privacy, but also helps people to connect and make relationships.
