Social Media’s Effect on Interpersonal Skills, Outline Example

Purpose: After listening to my speech, the audience will have a better understanding of social media and its impact on our daily lives. The advantages and disadvantages will be presented in an objective way to better help listeners regulate their social media use

Main Points: State your main points in complete sentences

1. Effective interpersonal communication relies primarily on non-verbal body language, and this is something which is lacking from the way individuals interact on social media.
2. There are many arguments that can be made in favor of social media expanding on interpersonal communication and increasing the reach and diversifying methods of communication.
3. Despite the advantages social media has introduced for interpersonal communication, there are also new barriers that have come with the digital revolution that might be reducing the quality of interpersonal communication.

Introduction

You probably are wondering who messaged you on Facebook right now, or if anyone lets comments on one of your Instagram photos. You probably feel the urge to check your phone, and scroll through your news feed, instead of listening to this speech, and that is exactly why you need to listen to this speech. It is undeniable that social media has drastically changed how we interact on a daily basis. Many people in this room may have friends that haven’t seen for years, but feel as though they are closer than ever with them. Perhaps you talk every day. You know what they like to eat, what type of music they listen to, and you might even have an in depth grasp of their personality and how it has evolved throughout the years. But, if your good friend who you have only kept in touch with through social media were considering committing suicide, would you be able to tell from a conversation online? It is reported that 93% of all interpersonal communication is non-verbal communication based on body language.

Body

Main Point I State it in a complete sentence: I. Effective interpersonal communication relies primarily on non-verbal body language, and this is something which is lacking from the way individuals interact on social media.

1. Subpoint: In a study published in the Journal of Communication, Kenichi Ishii found that young, non-family related pairs of friends, preferred using mobile mail interaction over mobile voice interactions. It was found that this had both negative and positive aspects.
2. The positive aspect of young Japanese using mobile mail to interact with their friends was that it allows them to maintain long lasting friendships. The
3. It is reported that 93% of all interpersonal communication is non-verbal communication based on body language. It’s only when one can hear a tone of voice, or see the non-verbal cues such as the way someone is sitting or whether they are making eye contact that they can assess for sure whether an “I’m fine” really means that.
4. The study found that 58% of the business users, who integrate mobile mail communication in their daily workdays, agreed that mobile phones limit their freedom.

Transition: This is not to bash social media. It does have its advantages.

Main Point II. State it in a complete sentence:

There are many arguments that can be made in favor of social media expanding on interpersonal communication and increasing the reach and diversifying methods of communication.

1. Subpoint: The use of social media and mobile technology in general is a choice and it’s one that that can be used in such a way to support interpersonal communication.
2. An example of social media supporting interpersonal communication can be seen with video chats which allow users to see and listen to the person on the other end
3. It can be seen with helping individuals maintain long lasting friendships.
4. Social Media news feeds keep people more informed.
5. Many of the social and political issues that have happened as of late have been communicated and shared in a much faster pace than in the past due primarily to social media.
6. It is much more difficult for news outlets to lie to the public without having to face the scrutiny of grass roots media which holds them to task. Grass roots media would not be effective without sites like Youtube and Facebook available for them to easily broadcast their findings.
7. While it does hold a certain negative stigma, it is not completely impossible to meet new people online. When this does workout, it is usually a connection that has ideal compatibility, because it’s been formed against a large pool of options based on ideal preferences. For example, a new hire off of linkedIn, or dating someone based on highest number of shared interests on their social media profile.

Transition: Main Point III

Despite the advantages social media has introduced for interpersonal communication, there are also new barriers that have come with the digital revolution that might be reducing the quality of interpersonal communication.

1. In her Forbes article questioning whether social media is destroying real communication, Susan Tardanico makes the claim that the preference towards social media as a form of daily interaction has shifted the focus of communication to quantity over quality and superficiality over authenticity. She argues that social media can ironically lead to people being less social, relying on social media as a surrogate form of communication.
2. In Kenichi Ishii’s study he found that video chat networks or software is often not as easily adopted as text messaging. Many people surveyed found video chatting to be more invasive. Women felt it required them to put on makeup, so they were less likely to have video chat calls, and voice phone calls required more of their attention making it more difficult to multi-task.
3. In Joshua Meyrowitz’s study on electronic media and its impact on social behavior, he states that electronic media “lead to a nearly total dissociation of physical place and social “place.” When we communicate through telephone, radio, television, or computer, where we are physically no longer determines where and who we are socially” (Meyrowitz, pp.115). This means that social media makes it possible for individuals to lose their sense of self or even fall into the illusion of believing their social media persona is their true self.

The lack of body language cues such as tone of voice and eye contact, creates an automatic gap in communication and disadvantage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be very detrimental to one’s social skills if they become too reliant on social media as a communication form. While it is also a valuable tool in assisting people to maintain friendships they have already made offline, it can be incredibly detrimental to people forming new bonds.

Bibiliography

Caplan, Scott E. “A social skill account of problematic Internet use.” Journal of communication 55.4 (2005): 721.

Ishii, Kenichi. “Implications of mobility: The uses of personal communication media in everyday life.” Journal of Communication 56.2 (2006): 346-365.

Meyrowitz, Joshua. No sense of place: The impact of electronic media on social behavior. Oxford University Press, 1985.

Tardanico, Susan. “Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication?” Forbes. 2012