It is often argued that people nowadays are over-relying on technological devices, leading to the erosion of individuals’ interpersonal skills. Personally, I agree with this statement to some extent, while I believe that the ability to create opportunities for people who are far apart to connect with each other should not be underestimated.
On the one hand, overreliance on digital devices can negatively affect real-life conversations as they prefer online chatting over physical meetings . This matters because people tend to spend more time interacting through virtual platforms, resulting in a significant decline in meaningful face-to-face conversations. For example, it is not uncommon to see a friend group sitting in the same table, but everyone is staring at their own phones instead of talking with each other. As a result, the prevalence of digital devices pose a risk to society because people become more apathy, thereby detaching them from the real world and giving them a sense of loneliness.
Despite these drawbacks, i believe that its ability of facilitating connections between people who are far apart should not be neglected. Specifically, the advent of technological devices enables individuals to effortlessly connect with anyone through various platforms regardless of distance. This is because applications such as Instagram, Telegram or Messenger allow people to send instant messages or make video calls, helping them keep in touch with their loved ones 24/7. Furthermore, technological tools can provide people with many benefits by allowing them to find people with shared interests or reserved personalities across online forums and communities. For instance, introverted people, who struggling with integrarting into society, can easily find global online groups with shared passions, helping them to express themselves more freely. Therefore, people can stay in touch with their relatives who are currently in another countries or find online friends due to digital development, giving a sense of belonging and feel less isolated.
In conclusion, although reliance on digital tools may reduce face-to-face conversations and weaken their interpersonal skills, I believe that it can support their mental health by connecting them with people from over the world.