Is Mobile Technology Having a Negative Impact on Social Skills?

[Sam Gliksman]

There was a recent tongue-in-cheek article in the New York Times about the annoying habit many people have of texting when you talk to them. We're all familiar with the scene of family members or friends sitting next to each other at a table or sofa - each one interacting intensively on their own device while seemingly impervious to the fact that they are sitting right next to another person.

It has been shown that the development of social and interpersonal skills is one of the important factors in a child's success in later life. Being able to interpret body language, read and react to facial expressions, focusing on a conversation without being distracted - the simple act of looking someone in the eyes when you talk to them - they all create very powerful personal connections. Mobile technologies have definitely made it far easier for us to "connect" ... but has it come at the expense of our abilities to relate to each other on a personal level?

It may be a provocative question but is the continual interaction with mobile technologies causing us to lose a little piece of our humanity? What's your opinion?

[John J Caprice]

I look at the mobile technology more as a disconnect.

Fortunately, my kids grew up just as texting bcame popular....It would have supper time a real issue with me!

My daughter is the "textmaster", yet when we go out to dinner, she is no longer is preoccupied with her phone...even technology's demands wear thin on the free soul...There is hope!

JJC

[Dolly Ryan]

We just had an interesting thing happen to us today that made us raise our eyebrows in a kindergarten class. We recently put up a "chick cam" that streamed video of an incubator located in the classroom out to our main lobby for older students and parents to see. When the eggs started hatching in the classroom and in front of their eyes students asked their teacher if they could go and watch it on the big t.v. Clearly it was their preference. Here was this live event happening right before their eyes where they could get up close and experience it, yet they would rather leave the room and watch it on a screen. So, I don't think it's just mobile technology. I am concerned that both children and adults are losing the ability to truly experience a moment. More and more people hide behind their devices to avoid eye contact, feel lost without their devices, or are demonstrating addictive behavior, and we wonder why adults and kids are so stressed out. The human connection is now taking a back seat in many ways. Stephen's question of "why" people are preferring tech is a really good one. Is it convenience or avoidance?

[Marcello Mongardi]

I was talking to my students about this kind of isolation.  I showed them a short video.  Afterwards we were discussing, and I asked if they had these issues with their friends.  "Are your friends always connected, hard to talk to face to face, you can't ever get their attention etc.?"  I was met with a chorus of "That's my dad, not my friends!  He's always doing something with his phone!"

I think it's an issue, a big issue,  but a big parenting issue.

[Judy Arzt]

In addition to a discussion of the impact of mobile technology on social skills, we should wonder about distraction. Some people don't multi-task as well as they think they do. They can be on the phone, and the next thing you know, they walk into a tree or cross the road and get hit by a car. Worse yet, they drive the car holding the phone or mobile device in hand. Not only are people getting isolated socially in their technologies (not including social networking when in a safe environment), but they are also putting themselves and others in harm's way. There is more to this discussion than simple isolation. Used well technology can contribute to social skills. Used to the point of distraction, they can not only isolate people, but also distract them to the point of serious harm both physically and mentally. 

[Jeremy Dorn]

Actually Reynaldo it think is because parents do these habbits that itbis impacting their kids. The parents see nothing worng with texting while something else is going on(like driving) and take it as a right. There kids are the same way. When we take it away they complain like we lopped an arm off (actually it's taking away an addition which can seem to hurt worse). Then they get their parents involved who become equally irate because clearly we are wrong for taking away a "right" they take for granted.

[Stephen C. Taylor]

I think the question isn't necessarily "if" but "why" are people preferring tech. to interpersonal means to relate to others.  If we assume there is a continuum where face to face is the most personal; electronic visuals/sound (e.g. webex, skype) is next; talking via a device (e.g. phone) follows; chatting / twitter / text messaging is the second most impersonal; and the most impersonal is email, why would any of us choose one medium over another at any given point in time?  Kids, young adults, and, more than ever, all people may be staying in "touch" with others more than we were able to before because of the ability to use different options.  I will never pick up a phone call, for example, in a meeting, when there is a lot of noise, when it would be offensive or rude; however, I would check out a text message, albeit in a more subtle way, in some meetings, maybe even in a movie theater, and certainly under noisy conditions.  If I don't know what the situations in which others, who I'm trying to contact, find themselves, I'd most likely send a text message.  I will say that I do believe computers, smart-phones, iPads, etc. are very compelling devises which, like television, have a peculiar ability to engage us to the point where we lose track of time and, in some cases, become rather dependent /addicted to their use at the expense of human interaction.  My conclusion is that we absolutely need to learn better self-regulation using these devices similar to what we had to learn to do with the introduction of other technologies (e.g. the automobile, telephones, weapons) ... er ... actually maybe a little better than how we've learned to regulate those.

[Ross Toivonen]

Communication is and should always be multi-faceted.

[Leah Tuffley]

Our jobs as parents and teachers are to teach manners and etiquette within these new paths of communication and interaction.

[Jennifer Harris]

Definitely!!!!  We have lost patience, the ability to read people, and the ability to truly listen - which in my opinion is an art in itself!  Our society is so plugged in that we miss out on real interaction.  There needs to be a balance and some guidelines - when its appropriate to stay virtually connected or "plugged in".  Restaurants, dinner tables, and while in conversation with others are NOT appropriate times to have one's face/fingers glued to a screen!

[John Dodson]

It is simply a matter of manners. Manners need to be taught and then enforced through general societal approval or disapproval of our actions. The introduction of a new technology does not give one a blank pass on behaving properly. If someone starts texting while we are engaged in a conversations I turn around and walk away. If everyone would do this then this annoying habit would come to an end.