Given the way technological advancements have revolutionized communication, many people assert that these changes have given rise to our sociability, while others believe they render us less sociable. This essay will elaborate on both perspectives before presenting my final thoughts.
On one side of the debate, proponents endorse the benefits of modern technology regarding human sociability for some compelling reasons. One notable argument among these is that means of communication in the past used to be restricted, and our efforts to socialize would be met with substantial obstacles, especially geographical distances. Meanwhile, contemporary people, thanks to the creations of the Internet, mobile phones, and social media, are empowered to communicate with counterparts far away, even from other countries or continents. For instance, the emergence of Hello Talk, a communication app for making international friends, has enabled many individuals to expand their social networks and hone their communication skills. Thus, it can be claimed that such technological enhancements have undoubtedly contributed to our social capability.
Despite such appealing advantages, overreliance on technological tools for communication can lead to deteriorating social ability. That is, no matter how convenient such advancements are, genuine interaction remains of paramount importance. While online texting or video calls offer immediate and effective ways of communication, they lack several subtle, but crucial, elements of in-person interaction, such as facial expressions, intonation, and physical contact. If in-person contacts are gradually dominated by online forms, miscommunication and misunderstanding are likely to happen, potentially jeopardizing human social aptitudes and relationship quality. That is, such repercussions of overdependence on online social tools are obviously shown in the number of broken relationships due to the lack of genuine contacts in real life.
After closely examining the merits of both arguments, I would argue in favor of a more balanced approach, leveraging the potential of modern technology to facilitate international friendships while still maintaining a level of moderation, thus avoiding the probability of worsening social capabilities and lower-quality relationships.