Has Technology Destroyed Communication, Essay Example

I understand why critics believe TV, cell phone, and social media have destroyed communication among friends and families because we find ourselves more and more occupied with gadgets. But this type of criticism is not new and has often emerged whenever society’s old ways of living have been threatened. Technology has not destroyed communication but simply change its nature.

The critics take a very narrow view of communication because communication doesn’t only take place through face-to-face interactions but also among parties which may not be physically present in each other’s company. Thus, a better argument may be that families and friends now communicate in a different manner, mostly through technological communication channels.

The economic and technological progress almost always change the way most members of the society live and this criticism is nothing but an example of social panic. Progress in transportation technology such as the inventions of cars, airplanes, and rail system meant more and more people left homes and even hometowns in search of better economic opportunities. Their leaving home didn’t in any manner imply they had broken off from their families but simply that the nature of relationship had changed.

The criticism may also stem from generational differences. Critics might have generation bias as they didn’t grow up with technology such as cell phones and internet and, thus, spent more time engaging in face-to-face communication with friends and family. Over time, this criticism may disappear as new expectations about the nature of communication will find widespread acceptance in the society.

Technology has not destroyed communication but simply changed its form. In fact, cell phone and internet have been specifically credited with making communication more convenient and cheaper. The criticism may have its roots in fears of change as well as a desire to protect old lifestyles.