Technology And Relationships Essay

Facebook, the largest social networking site, reached one million users in 2004 (Shontell 8). Today Facebook has grown to a little under a billion and a half users (Statista para. 1). Facebook is just one of many social networking sites designed to keep people connected. Connection is defined as "having social or professional relationships" (Dictionary para. 1). With the digital age, several terms have come to be used to described staying connected digitally: social networking, social technology, and social media. Becoming connected has changed from relationship based and face-to-face contact within a relatively small geographic area, to a truly global digital community. More people are joining online dating sites to meet new people and to start relationships. Over 40 million Americans …show more content…
Sabine Matook, a senior lecturer of information systems at the UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Australia, concluded that the definition of social networking “is the proactive creation and maintenance of interpersonal relationships” (8). According to Matook technology helps create and improve relationships. Humans are social creatures and social networking creates a means whereby people can be closer to friends, family and even complete strangers while living thousands of miles apart. Some detractors of social technology believe that social technology creates an environment of increased sadness and isolation. However, in Sabine Matook 's study, The Impact of Relationship Characteristics and Online Social Network Features on Loneliness, he “did not find a significant impact on loneliness” and social networking use (10). Social networking is a tool that helps people stay connected with friends and family. Social networking does not change people’s moods or behaviors. People who use social networking are not any different from those who don’t, other than they have a connection with more