Effects Of Technology On Empathy

Have you ever wondered how technology could be having an effect on the way you communicate and empathize for others? Throughout the past few decades, researchers have been studying the positive and negative effects that technology is having on empathy. The word “technology” is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a machine, piece of equipment, method, etc. Smartphones are amongst the most commonly used pieces of technology in America. According to Aaron Smith, an associate director of the Pew Research Center and expert in the growing impact of mobile technology and author of the article “Cell Phone Use in 2015” explains, “Today nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone, and 19% of Americans rely to some degree on a smartphone …show more content…
A problem that is often seen on Facebook and other social media applications is cyber bullying. According to the statistics found on Internet Safety 101.org, “95% of social media-using teens who have witnessed cruel behavior on social networking sites say they have seen others ignoring the mean behavior.” With that being said, it is obvious that people who are using social media apps such as Facebook are exposed to these cruel acts and not doing anything about it. A person with a strong sense of empathy would recognize the pain that the victim is going through and try to take control of the situation to put a stop to the problem. The type of bullying seen most often on Facebook is a group of people ganging up on someone else based on a controversial status or picture that they disagree on. For instance, when Donald Trump came to Springfield to give his presidential campaign, Facebook was where people would go to post their opinions both, good and bad, of the topics that Trump covered. Because of that, people were being attacked over social media by others, posting mean comments if they did not share the same views. It was apparent to me that most of the rude comments that were coming from individuals who would most likely not say that face to face. With that being said, Facebook makes it easier for people to be less empathic towards one another when they are behind a cell phone …show more content…
Some believe that Facebook could be increasing their ability to empathize for others in another way compared to communicating face-to-face. Within Teddy Wayne’s New York Times article “Found on Empathy: Facebook”, Tracy Alloway, an associate professor of psychology and researcher on empathy in social media, explains, “In face-to-face connections, you tend to stay with people you’re most familiar with or have most in common with. But Facebook can break down those boundaries. We can be exposed to different ways of thinking and emotional situations.”(Para 20). Teddy Wayne illustrates in his article that Facebook has brought a different style on how we experience empathy to our generation. Researchers are trying to prove that just because the people empathize differently does not mean they lack