The Overlooked Problems of Online Communication Essay Example

The rapidly evolving online atmosphere we immerse ourselves in daily has proven itself to have the capacity to cause real change for the better in the world. However, it also has shown its ability to harm the well-being of a limitless number of individuals. Ongoing discourse has established itself for the purpose of debating whether or not a high degree of “digital connectedness” is an overall positive or negative part of life. Online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram have allowed people to connect in brand new ways that would have never been possible without them. These platforms have sprouted lifelong friendships all because of our increasing degree of online communication. These same platforms, however, have also caused us to selectively compare ourselves to others at their peaks and made many people feel more isolated than ever. This ultimately causing great harm to the self-image and mental health of those negatively affected. While it is true that digital communication allows many people to form new relationships and collaborate in ways they otherwise would not have, it is imperative to set limits on one’s access to online spaces in order to prevent oneself from experiencing the negative aspects that often go overlooked.

Online communication allows for harmful effects on the self-image and mental health of its users.  During a debate, Emerson Csorba, an educational policy advisor and member of Canada’s Public Policy Forum, brought up interviews he conducted with early and mid-career professionals on the topic of how they see their lives and careers developing. He claims that through the discussions “a theme of ‘ruthless comparison’ emerges, where we become acutely aware of how our friends and colleagues portray themselves online” (Csorba, “The Constant Sharing”). These social media platforms enable this subconscious behavior often without the user realizing. The comparison of one’s everyday life to the highlights of a friend or colleague’s life can damage one’s self-esteem and bring on feelings of inferiority. Additionally, excessive use can create a self-perpetuating cycle where you try to remedy your feelings by using social media even more. Online communication is often a contributing factor to mental health and self-image problems many people face today through inevitable comparisons we draw between ourselves and others.

Still, digital communication has the potential to be a positive force for its users and the world at large through its ability to connect a vast number of people. Csorba’s debate partner, Noa Gafni Slaney, is the founder of a social impact firm and fellow of social innovation at the University of Cambridge. In a rebuttal to Csorba, Slaney references the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and how it raised “more than $115 million. More recently, the Ice Bucket Challenge was credited with funding a research breakthrough” (Slaney, “Online Activism”). These digital spaces carry a large share of the responsibility for orchestrating the raising of that money by simply being a medium people could use to connect with each other for a good cause. The campaign allowed for awareness to be raised to virtually every user on the platforms and reach an audience that would otherwise be impossible to. Online social platforms have the ability to be the foundation for people to collaborate on a large scale for a common good.

Although online social connections have displayed their ability to cause harm time and time again, Slaney still holds an overly optimistic view of these connections and often does not hit the nail on the head at several points in the debate. Later in the discussion, Slaney dismisses the harmful effects of online interaction by arguing that online “platforms mimic — not alter— our real-world behavior” (Slaney, “Online Connections). Online platforms do not mimic our behavior due to the fact that people act much differently online than in real life. People create inaccurate and perfected versions of themselves online in order to display the best version of themselves that they otherwise would not always show face-to-face. Furthermore, online platforms allow people to interact with others while masked behind an account name, thus minimizing potential social consequence from poor behavior. By saying this, Slaney disregards the harmful effects of these platforms that would otherwise not be present in direct interactions.

Being connected to others digitally is a double-edged sword that is capable of bringing people together for good causes or harming the mental health of many when overused. Social platforms can easily cause its users to build an inaccurate portrayal of others by only exposing them to the selectively chosen best parts of their lives. Yet despite its glaring drawbacks, these same social platforms are capable of enhancing our lives through collaborative fundraising and by enabling people to meet new people. Through being conscious of the harmful effects of digital connectedness and setting limits on activity, one can reap the benefits of digital connection while minimizing the mental downsides it can present.

Works Cited

Csorba, Emerson. “The Constant Sharing Is Making Us Competitive and Depressed.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 Nov. 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/11/28/is-digital-connectedness-good-or-bad-people. 

Slaney, Noa Gafni. “Online Activism Is Having a Positive Effect in the Real World...” New York Times, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/11/28/is-digital-connectedness-good-or-bad-people. 

Slaney, Noa Gafni. “Online Connections Can be Superficial, but the Examples of That Are Outliers...” New York Times, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/11/28/is-digital-connectedness-good-or-bad-people.