Since the beginning of time, the world has been constantly changing, and its inhabitants are changing with it. Technological advancements ranging from smartphones to artificial intelligence are shaping the way the world, as well as the people in it, works. In the essay “Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts,” Jonathan Franzen argues that the rapid growth of technology’s role in the average human’s life today nearly obliterates what was once called romance; insecurities and reliance on devices establish boundaries of what humans are willing to show and tell others, and these boundaries get in the way of true human connection. However, technology is connecting the human race more now than ever before. Technology is saving relationships by
…show more content…
Go for What Hurts,” Jonathan Franzen suggests that the relationship between technology and interpersonal relationships is all one-sided; either the technology wins out and you become a slave to an alternate reality, or you choose face-to-face communication without even thinking about checking your Facebook friend requests. A life dedicated to technology is a life dedicated to being likeable, about which Franzen points out that “if you dedicate your existence to being likable, however, and if you adopt whatever cool persona is necessary to make it happen, it suggests that you’ve despaired of being loved for who you really are” (145). The use of media platforms to broadcast daily occurrences has painted Internet users as movie stars and celebrities in their own minds, taking pictures of nearly everything and creating a page of their greatest accomplishments. However, the connection between technology and interpersonal relationships is not all that mutually exclusive. In the paper “Technology, Relationships and Culture: Clinical and Theoretical Implications,” Karen Zilberstein comments on the duality of technology and face-to-face communication in our lives, noting that “texting and other means of briefly connecting may appear to constitute superficial relationships, but in fact act as a means to continue existing friendships. Studies show that social media are generally not used to establish new friendships or romantic associations, but to connect with friends and family members…nor do they replace closer contact” (152). It is possible to have one along with the other. In some cases, the implementation of technology even enhances the relationships developed between individuals or groups of people. For example, video calls through programs like Skype or Apple’s FaceTime have not only been utilized by family and friends on a local basis, but also have been implemented in the world of corporate America. This type of technology and others like
Go for What Hurts,” Jonathan Franzen suggests that the relationship between technology and interpersonal relationships is all one-sided; either the technology wins out and you become a slave to an alternate reality, or you choose face-to-face communication without even thinking about checking your Facebook friend requests. A life dedicated to technology is a life dedicated to being likeable, about which Franzen points out that “if you dedicate your existence to being likable, however, and if you adopt whatever cool persona is necessary to make it happen, it suggests that you’ve despaired of being loved for who you really are” (145). The use of media platforms to broadcast daily occurrences has painted Internet users as movie stars and celebrities in their own minds, taking pictures of nearly everything and creating a page of their greatest accomplishments. However, the connection between technology and interpersonal relationships is not all that mutually exclusive. In the paper “Technology, Relationships and Culture: Clinical and Theoretical Implications,” Karen Zilberstein comments on the duality of technology and face-to-face communication in our lives, noting that “texting and other means of briefly connecting may appear to constitute superficial relationships, but in fact act as a means to continue existing friendships. Studies show that social media are generally not used to establish new friendships or romantic associations, but to connect with friends and family members…nor do they replace closer contact” (152). It is possible to have one along with the other. In some cases, the implementation of technology even enhances the relationships developed between individuals or groups of people. For example, video calls through programs like Skype or Apple’s FaceTime have not only been utilized by family and friends on a local basis, but also have been implemented in the world of corporate America. This type of technology and others like