Social Media Friend or Foe?

2013-10-11


[Question 1]

Is social media popular among your friends? Would you say you interact with your friends more often through social media rather than f2f(face to face)? Do you see any problem with this, and if so, how are these problems related social media use in your country?


My Opinion:

My own experience with social media is that it has never been a choice; but the means to enjoy an enduring link with friends and relatives no matter where I am. I have built long standing friendships while living in different countries, turning friends into family; so, when I leave them behind, it means the world to me to keep the relationship going thanks to social media. But these relationships would have never endured had they not been built and nurtured through close f2f(face to face) bonding and exchange at the beginning. I wish I had had this resource as a kid; for I would have had the chance to continue friendships with long lost friends I made while in boarding schools and college.


On the other hand, an ever present social media can be obtrusive and hinder f2f(face to face) relationships, which is what I have seen in the last few years as a teacher.


Young people, born into the social media era, carry a smartphone as an extension of their bodies and even their minds; but, miss out on what really forms and holds the relationship together through time and distance: the physical bonding, the shared eye contact, silent messages, body language, being there for one another, and so much more… This is far from one family or one country problem, it goes beyond borders; and although there are cases of friendships, even weddings sprung from social media contact, they are not representative of what is really mainstream: we are in the presence of a worldwide cultural shift and relationship void, even within families, and we are quite unprepared to manage it. Both families and schools acting together can help by promoting f2f(face to face) social skills and by fostering opportunities to make use of them.


[Question 2]

Is it wrong for parents to join the same social media networks at their children? Why or why not?


My Opinion:

If you have a good relationship with your parents, with your children, or with your siblings, I don’t see how it can be wrong. On the contrary, it is a way for different generations to catch up and be able to communicate with the younger or older generation. It is quite adorable to see grandparents interact with their young grandchildren, sending them articles and stuff that may or may not turn into a digital conversation; but which, when f2f, can be continued or brought about to create and carry on the conversation. Grandparents have a need to exercise the brain muscle, learning new things helps and bonding with grandchildren so much more.


By the same token, parents and children exercise good sense in sharing the same social media network. It promotes belonging within a common community, it allows multiple ways to integrate into conversations quickly and, best of all, it keeps communication channels open to engage in deeper learning and communication opportunities which foster stronger cultural and familial bonds and emotional support.


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