The best way to communicate with another person has always been through language and vocal expression. Whether it is in a casual conversation, over the phone, or with a small keypad on a mobile phone. As technology has grown so does the form of communication and language. But what are the side effects of these new devices? Facebook, texting, and instant messaging have both positive and negative psychological impacts on kids, teens, and young adults.
In the late 1990s, user profiles became a central feature of social networking sites, allowing users to compile lists of “friends” and search for other users with similar interests. By the end of the 1990s, we developed new social networking methods, and many sites began to develop more advanced features for users to find and manage friends. Sites such as Myspace, Friendster, and Facebook let you interact and communicate with “friends” that are also members of the website. It was all for the well being of the community, interacting and getting to see what your friends and family were up to, but when the term “Facebook Stalking” becomes a regular term in everyone’s daily life, there’s something wrong going on in the online community.
An article called “Confessions of ‘Facebook stalkers’” on USA Today, said “In this age of ubiquitous social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, casual “stalking” of friends and acquaintances is typical, if not implicitly encouraged. Young Internet users can access more personal information on friends and acquaintances than past generations could ever imagine. But just because people know intimate details about acquaintances’ lives does not necessarily make it OK to mention it when they see each other in person.”
Back before social networking online, stalking was considered a crime. You followed the person around, learned about their daily routine, and explored their interests and their friends and family. The only reason Facebook stalking could be considered “safe” is because it’s honestly hard to get caught in the act. Facebook and Myspace offer the opportunity to share photos, thoughts, and even relationships to everyone on the site. You may as well have a big sign on your page/forehead saying, “Over here, stalk me”. In the article, a man named Gavin Driskill said, “You’re in the background looking at these people, looking at their lives. You’re just sitting there, and there’s no direct interaction. So in one sense you feel safe because you can get this information without sharing anything about you.”
Facebook stalking can be dangerous to those who are “supposedly” innocent in the act. But what happens when you become addicted to another’s life, rather than living in your own? CNN writer Elizabeth Cohen wrote about facebook addiction, stating “Although there are no statistics on “Facebook addiction” — it isn’t an actual medical diagnosis — therapists say they’re seeing more and more people who’ve crossed the line from social networking to social dysfunction.”
Some have found Facebook stalking turn into a compulsion to dissociate from your real world and go live in the Facebook world. At some point, it can almost become like a drug, pulling you in everyday no matter how much you fight back. You become addicted, watching everyone in the Facebook world live his or her lives and almost pity yourself with the fact that you can’t live your own. You almost picture yourself in that vacation album of another family or friend, you feel like you know everything about how their day when really you just hope it might be better than your own.
I realized I had gained a type of “addiction” for the networking website. I had been a member since 2009 and loved seeing how many friends I could reach, and even ended up adding people I didn’t even know. Since I was extremely young and naïve, I met a boy that become a sort of “boyfriend”. It lasted for a good two years, me learning about him and him about me. Though I loved talking to him, I feared that one day he might actually find me and want to meet face to face. The relationship got dangerous and in the end, him threatening my life if I didn’t show him more respect. Thank goodness today he no longer bothers me, but I still fear that one day he will return into my life again. Because of this incident, I learned that the Facebook world is more than sharing photos or thoughts with friends and family, but also a danger to everyone online.
Dangerous people and hackers have a hay day on Facebook. They can easily break into your account, and manage everything you have, even your personal information. A man named Mark Neely got his Facebook hacked by a person who was trying to get money from his friends by saying that he had been robbed. He tried to find a way to contact Facebook, but found a dead end. “I did another scan of the Facebook site looking for a contact phone number for their Help Desk or security team. Nothing listed. I looked for a contact email address. Nada. I did a couple of Google searches looking for any trace of a contact point (nothing, with the exception of the representative of their PR company). The only option for making contact with Facebook that I could locate was to fill out their online form for reporting password problems” Neely tried anyway to get back into his account, but the more time Neely spent trying to contact Facebook security, the more the hacker was nagging his friends for money. “Several friends who had twigged to the scam played along with the hacker, and captured transcripts of the conversations, which they sent to me. The hackers were clearly sophisticated – the stories followed very closely to a script, but they were able to adjust according to the responses from my friends. They quoted Western Union account numbers for the transfer, and prodded my friends to “please hurry” as I was still in danger.”
Since we were young, we were always told to stay away from strangers and not to trust anyone in an unfamiliar environment. How is the Internet any different? Don’t trust anyone just because his or her profile picture is a loving cartoon character.
A couple years ago, Facebook came out with a new feature where you could access your account through your phone. As a constant user of the site, I went for the new upgrade and even found it really useful. I would get a text about anything happened on my profile. Some time later, I get a text message from a complete stranger. Asking them how they got my number, they responded with one word, “Facebook”. I looked on my profile and found that my cell number was posted on my information and that anyone could have access to it. Realizing the mistake I made, I quickly got rid of the new update, erasing my phone number from the site. Lucky for me, the stranger that had text me was in my graduating class, and was just trying to play a prank. But had it been a true stranger, a man or woman I didn’t know, it could have become dangerous.
My point is not to condemn the social networking site as being extremely dangerous. In fact, the site has so many great qualities that most of the time we pass over some of the dangers of having a lot of personal information on a site that anyone in the world can see. In many ways, it can be dangerous because of other shady users but also it has contributed to the loss of proper grammar and English.
Web MD posted an article about the positive and negative side effects of Facebook. “In one new survey of 1,200 teens and young adults, the more time spent on Facebook and instant messaging, the greater their online and real-world empathy, or ability to understand and relate to others’ feelings.” Online social networking can make it easier for shy kids and teens to socialize by reaching out to others from a smart device rather than in person.
Being a shy person myself, talking to someone over text or online feels more comfortable. I don’t have to see their face, their reaction, and if they don’t respond I figure they’re busy or just not online. Instead of the embarrassment of having someone awkwardly say hello or even walk away from the conversation. Sometimes, it can even boost up my self-esteem, making me feel confident about myself and expanding my social range.
A small blog by a girl named Violet Blue mentioned, “According to researchers, a visit to Facebook is likely to make you feel much better about yourself. No, really. Love it or hate it – most of us hate it – and Facebook may give us ulcers about our privacy, but an interesting new study concludes that Facebook actually boosts your self-esteem. You won’t feel better about Facebook, but you may be learning to like yourself more than people who don’t use social networks.”
With the use of Facebook, you can almost see yourself through other people’s lives. Though Facebook “stalking” is a big thing to do to your friends, sometimes I Facebook stalk myself just to see how I look. Sometimes I think to myself, “That post was really funny” or sometimes “Why did I put that picture up of me?” Facebook, in it’s strange way, let’s you “redue” the mistakes you make or even brag about your latest achievement without seeming to cocky.
One of my biggest pet peeves over Facebook and text messaging is the way people misuse proper English, and sometimes it seems to be on a downward cline.
Improper grammar in SMS messaging is using a simple shortening of words. Mny teengrs hve lost the need to spell out wrds crctly, and in many ways can be hard to read. Text messaging over the phone started in 1992 but didn’t become very popular until 1995. Today, text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service, with 74% of all mobile phone users worldwide, or 2.4 billion out of 3.3 billion phone subscribers, at end of 2007 being active users of the Short Message Service. In countries such as Finland, Sweden and Norway, over 85% of the population use SMS. The European average is about 80%, and North America is rapidly catching up with over 60% active users of SMS by end of 2008. The largest average usage of the service by mobile phone subscribers is in the Philippines, with an average of 27 texts sent per day by subscriber, as found on the CNN website.
Texting is one of today’s easiest ways to get in touch with another person. Though texting, just like Facebook, has many benefits, we sometimes ignore some of the dangers; such as texting while driving, “sexting”, schools, bullying, and even small medical concerns.
I’m sure as a teacher, seeing student’s text during a lecture can be very aggravating and annoying, almost like talking to a wall. Most schools treat the phones as a disruptive force that must be managed and often excluded from the school and the classroom.
I must admit I am included in those that text during class, I am no saint. There’s always that one question on a math test I just get stuck on. So if you can phone a friend on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire”, why not during a math test? Not to mention the moral support you can receive before a test via text.
Being in college, it has become much easier to get distracted with texting. Back in high school if you got caught while texting, you would get either a stern warning from the teacher or the device would be taken away and sent to higher authority. In college, the teacher is less threatening to the student and since college is the student’s decision, it’s the student’s decision to not pay attention. Still, now that the threat is no longer there, I find it harder to pay attention to the class and even try to participate.
An article by Patricia Alex says “Texting in class has become widespread — more than 40 percent of teens say they do it despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of schools ban cell phone use, according to a recent survey. Anecdotally, local teens say the percentage may be higher still, and educators concede that the phenomenon may be here to stay.” Even though schools ban cell phone use, students still rebel just like they rebel against their parents and any other authority. It’s in their blood.
In some ways there can be a bright side to the situation. The same article reads “There have been fledgling steps around the state with using students’ cell phones to set up “live response” systems in class; teachers could blast-text students with relevant information and reminders. Smart phones now give students the capability of carrying what is essentially a personal computer in their pockets.” Students can contact teachers and other students for help in class. They can hear about new clubs, new activities, and reminders on next weeks test.
Though texting has its ups and downs, one of the most interesting problems has to do with the health of a texter. One teenager girl actually got carpal tunnel from texting too much. According to ABC news, 16-year-old Annie Levitz had merely been texting her friends up to 100 times a day, causing her to get carpal tunnel syndrome in her hands. Now, she must wear a brace on each hand and enjoy cortisone injections. She also has to endure surgery. Worse than all of that, of course, is the embarrassment. Sometimes texting that one cute boy or girl isn’t worth it in the long run. The risk of getting carpal tunnel from texting is very slim, but sometimes it’s good to know that there are consequences to every action.
Ever since the advent of text messages, society has grown aware of the dangers of texting while driving. The ability to be able to send short messages has been embraced by millions of people worldwide. The service is so convenient that some people even compose and send text messages anytime and anywhere- while walking, eating, and even while driving. The growing number of accidents caused while texting and driving has put to the forefront the dangers of texting while driving.
Driving is an activity that requires full concentration and composing. Reading and sending text messages will compromise the driver’s concentration. According to the National Highway Traffic safety Administration, 16% of all fatal crashes in 2008 were caused by driver distraction. One of the most obvious dangers that happen when a driver is texting is that the driver will avert his or her eyes from the road for around five seconds or more, enough time for a person to fun in front of the vehicle, the light to change at an intersection, for the car in front to make a sudden stop.
The FCC wrote a guide about texting while driving, stating “The popularity of mobile devices has had some unintended and even dangerous consequences. We now know that mobile communications are linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, resulting in injury and loss of life. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2008 that driver distraction was the cause of 16 percent of all fatal crashes — 5,800 people killed — and 21 percent of crashes resulting in an injury — 515,000 people wounded. According to the American Automobile Association, nearly 50 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. Distracted driving endangers life and property and the current levels of injury and loss are unacceptable.”
Currently, there are no national laws that ban texting while driving. Nevertheless, some states took the initiative to create their own texting while driving laws because of the serious consequences of such activities. Using your cell phone while driving is like playing Russian roulette. You risk your own life just to send that quick short message to your friend.
A girl in my graduating class was driving up the mountain with her friends’ on homecoming night, she decided to quickly look at a text message and ended up rolling her car off the road. Since she decided to not wear a seat belt, her head was crushed and she died instantly. The entire school mourned her death and even held an assembly in her honor. The cost of her life and the injuries to her friends are never worth the “simple” ways of communication.
Another danger, that is more embarrassing than fatal, is the use of “sex text messaging”. “Sexting” is the use of sharing explicit images and messages via cell phone and other digital media. It has made headlines over scandals at civilian school and driven some states to contemplate legislation.
Though you trust the person on the other line, something could go wrong either in the relationship or even the phone service, causing an embarrassment for you and others. What is meant to be in private should stay in private and not shared.
An article by People magazine tells the story of teenagers being charged for child pornography. “The question is whether the pornography laws were ever intended to target young teens. In one case in October in Greensburg, Pa., officials at the high school seized a phone from a student and discovered a nude photo of a female classmate on it. Police brought child pornography charges against six students. At least five of the students have agreed to probation for misdemeanor charges.”
Living on the edge and being a rebel is one thing, but doing something so illegal that you may be charged, as an adult is another. According to the same article, one in five teens are sending or posting nude photographs of themselves everyday. At a young age like your pre-teens, your just learning what really is right and wrong. Anyone under the age of eighteen who is sending provocative photos of one another is wrong. Peer pressure at that young age is strong, and can lead to such disasters, along with constant harassment.
Along side with being embarrassed and having others misuse the benefits of text messaging, bullying over MMS or texting has become a wide spread issue all over the world. Instead of the dangers of having a child physically abused by another student, many young abusers are taking to the use of harsh words to beat another person down.
According to an article by BBC news, “Bullies had used images taken with mobile phone cameras to intimidate or embarrass one in 10 young people. This included singling out overweight or spotty youngsters and recording and sharing acts of playground violence.” Even if you were taking the picture of yourself, or someone takes a quick sneaky picture of you, bullies find ways to harass others by how they look with the evidence in hand.
Though I was never made fun of for my looks, I did have one boy harass me via text message. He lived in another state and for some reason I learned to trust him and his opinion. When it came to a dangerous state in our relationship, he was telling me how my family and friends were the enemy and that he would threaten to kill others if I stopped talking to him. In my moment of fear and desperation, I found an article online about MMS bullying and how to deal with it.
It advised me “NEVER ignore threats, either verbal or by phone or via text message. But don’t respond in the way the bully wants you to.” The moment he threatened to kill my father, I realized that a person I thought was my friend, was actually the enemy himself. I didn’t bow down to him anymore, like he expected me to. The one key of advice on the article hit me like a brick, “Get help immediately from a trusted parent – you cannot handle bullying alone. Adults cannot handle bullying by themselves. The bullies, who operate outside social norms, will try to isolate and separate you from friends, family and parents, but don’t be fooled.”
The advice was detailed in the exact way that he was treating me. So even through my fears and trials, I finally told my parents and once they got through the disappointment of my naïve mind, they helped me through the rough stage of getting this bully out of my life.
I don’t know how I got in the situation or how I ever could of gotten out with the help of my parents. I was lucky that I no longer have contact with him, and I wish it on no one. But people like him are still out there, and are attacking children everyday who are still afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Texting, just like Facebook, also can have its positive impact on today’s world. If used correctly it can help with reading, stay in contact with friends and family, and it’s gaining popularity every day.
According to U.S News on education, teachers have asked students to translate passages from classic literature to texting-speak to demonstrate language comprehension in different contexts. A finding from the CSU study supports that concept: “Texting-speak is not a mangled form of English that is degrading proper language but instead a kind of ‘pidgin’ language all its own that actually stretches teens’ language skills.” It’s a strange way to teach, but with today’s generation, it can get the point across.
When it comes to keeping in contact with loved ones, texting can really be the easy way out. Now that I’m in college, my mom, grandma, and basically any close family member wants me to update them all day, everyday. With texting, I don’t have to make so many phone calls saying the same thing over and over, I can just send one giant mass text to everyone in seconds, and everyone is happy in the end.
Whether you agree that texting or social networks, such as Facebook, are good or bad, these new forms of communication are here to stay. As everyday comes and goes, technology is growing more and more. Today we Facebook, tomorrow we communicate in ways that we can only dream of. Just like everything else in life, we share the positive and negatives but in the end, we just have to accept what the future will hold.