Is Social Media destroying our relationships?

This week is 'Versus Week'. Each Hello Noise blog post this week is going to be looking at a particular topic or question with one writer covering the positive and another the negative. We hope it gets you pumped up for our first Hello Noise debate night on November 3rd.

*Not every persons statement reflects their own personal beliefs.*

For the Positive: Dylan

I don’t believe that Social Media was designed to create anarchistic behavior amongst people and I don’t believe that it was designed to destroy relationships. Not one bit. But just because something was designed one way, doesn’t mean that is used in that way. Take alcohol for example, under mass consumption and when used by the wrong people it can lead to devastating results such as spousal and child abuse or alcohol poisoning which cane lead to death. But if used by the right person and with certain parameters in place it doesn’t have to be like that at all.

Social Media and Social Networking in particular wasn’t designed to destroy our relationships, but unfortunately it is. And it’s our fault. We haven’t taught ourselves how to properly use Facebook. And that may sound ridiculous, but how many people have ever gossiped, ‘mouthed’ or even said something mean to someone indirectly on Facebook. You know the whole “She is such a %#!$#” thing. Where it’s aimed at someone without names being used. Is that how we should talk to people offline? Is that why Facebook was created? Of course not. Then why do we do it? Because we do those things, people become hurt and upset and relationships and people break down. And if we continue to act in that manner we’re setting an example to younger people that that kind of behaviour is ok. 

If we use Facebook irresponsibly through our actions and words we’re saying it’s ok to hurt people online, it’s ok to be a weak and hurtful person. That’s the example that’s being set. Take the story of the two American preteens who hacked into a similar aged girl’s Facebook account and posted sexually explicit images, insinuating that she was a prostitute. These girls were 12. What happened for those young girls to think that that was an ok thing to do. Sure we could can blame it on their parents, but the reality is unless we all take a stand to use Facebook correctly this behavior will continue. 

Social Media is destroying relationships. Because we’re letting it.

For the Negative: Brayden

Some people have stated that social media will be the death of relationships, breeding generation after generation of socially awkward, fat, computer slobs who live in the fantasy realm of the interwebs. These people are wrong! And here is why.

Social media isn't a complete replacement for human interaction and conversation and in most cases it shouldn't be viewed as such. It is in fact an extension of the human to human experience, complimenting and enhancing relationships and communication. Never before have the people of planet Earth been so connected and in relation with one another than now in the present and this is almost solely due to social media. Yes the way that relationships are happening is changing, but I find it ridiculous to argue that the number one creator of relationships in the modern society is what is killing them. Blatant contradiction.

But you say ' relationships aren't dying, it's the art of relationships that is dying.' and to that again I say, that it isn't dying, merely changing. Generally the people I find hating on Social media, firstly don't/have never had an account, secondly they don't like change and lastly they aren't big fans of technology. They can't make relationships in Social media work, so therefore no one can. If this were the case for everything in life then no one in the world could touch their toes, or effectively multi-task, just cause I suck at it. Again, stupid logic.

There are countless stories of people being able to keep in contact with loved ones and rekindle old friendships with long lost pals, due to social media, It also introduces an entirely new way to share ourselves with others online and to build better connections thorough shared interests. It shouldn't be the sole source of human communication but people should definitely not steer clear of it just because a small number of people are hating on it. Because I think social media is a valuable extension to relationships in a modern society that thrives off the Internet and technology.

What do you think? Is Social Media destroying our relationships? YES or NO? 

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