by Makoto

Opinions Dec. 06, 2011 - 07:08AM JST ( 11 )

We live in an era of technology-based communications with social media, Internet and texting. The world has kept changing and it will continue to change. I still remember how dramatic it was when CDs came out when I was a teen. I saw some adults insisting on using a record player and feeling sentimental about it. It was one of the big innovations I remember in my life.

My parents brought some CDs home and they were the soundtracks for “Top Gun” and “Over the Top.” I still remember that. My dad put them in a CD player and we stood around it waiting for the sound to come out. When we heard the introduction of “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins, we looked at each other and we all said, “Ohhhhhh, the sound quality is phenomenal!” It was pure sound without the scratchy noise you could hear from records. Also, I liked the shiny surface of CDs; they looked so modernized.

Often I think about the implications of the Internet, social media, and texting, and how different the world will be when my children grow up. Many things are one click away and it takes less effort. In reality, you cannot avoid things you don’t like. For example, in school you may meet someone who you don’t like. You have choices: learning how to get along well with the person or having issues with him/her. You have to figure it out. It’s the same for work.

That’s the main reason why I send my children to school. I hear some disturbing stories on news and sometimes I think, “What kind of a world are we living in?” Of course, I hope that nothing horrible happens to them. But I want them to step out of their comfort zone which is home for them and to learn how to avoid danger, how to deal with the others, and how to be independent on their own.

On the other hand, with social media such as Facebook, you can choose to stay in your world. Maybe you are having a bad day, you are upset with your husband or work, or whatever. So you decide to broadcast how upset you are, how sad you are, or how unfortunate you are, on Facebook. People including those who you have met maybe 3 times in your life tell you that they are sorry for you, life is not fair, and life is hard. You get satisfaction because you feel like your opinions are validated. However, a pitfall of this is that it keeps you in your own little world.

Because you are satisfied, you stop seeking solutions for your core issues (if you need one). You sit in front of your computer and hear what you want to hear. That’s it. You don’t step out of your comfort zone to do something about it. Another issue with Facebooking is that words seem to weigh less there. Without looking at the person’s face you are communicating with, it’s easier to say things that you don’t mean or it’s easier to say mean things.

When my children get a birthday party invitation from their classmates, we often have choices to RSVP by either e-mail or phone. When I have to reply “no,” I find it easier to do that via e-mail rather than making a phone call. You know why? It takes less effort. I don’t have to pick up a phone and try to have a little conversation with the parent whom I never met. See, it’s easy.

Depending on the topic, I don’t neglect making efforts to pick up a phone and to have an actual conversation, though. For example, we got invited to a Thanksgiving dinner by our wonderful neighbor. However, we had to decline because we had other plans. Before I called her, I felt really bad about declining her invitation. I could have just texted her. Since my relationship with her is very important for me, I picked up the phone and called.

But I admit sometimes it’s better if you communicate via e-mail, Facebook, or texting under some circumstances. When any of my friends had a baby, the last thing I wanted to do was to wake her or her baby up by calling. Or I don’t like to interrupt what my friends are doing with trivial things. So, with those cases, I prefer texting, e-mailing or Facebooking.

I am not pessimistic about this new era. I know we can’t go back to the old days and we don’t need to. Rather, I want to use the technology in a smart way because it will be the center of my children’s social life. I acknowledge the benefits I get from them as having families and friends all over the world. It’s the best way to keep in touch with those who live far away from you.

For me, social media is the way to keep in touch with the others but I don’t need hundreds of “friends.” I keep in my mind that I don’t throw out words lightly and I don’t get caught up with trivia going on in cyberspace. We can definitely maximize the benefits of social media by knowing how to use them.

Author Infomation

Makoto

Website: http://www.eastmeetswestblog.com/