.: Follow Me! :.

          One of the most well known phrases of the last decade consists of only two words: “Facebook me!” The unofficial slogan for social networking site Twitter (“Tweet me!”) comes in at a close second. The creation of new cultural lingo based on websites is a testament to the rise of digital social networking as an important communication tool in our society. As the media for human interaction change, so do the characteristics of person-to-person socialization and interrelation. Although social networking sites allow us to form social connections that we might not have otherwise initiated, it also injects human communication with an element of detachment and impersonality. 

          In his book You Are Not A Gadget, author Jaron Lanier purports that “The deep meaning of personhood is being reduced by illusions of bits. Since people will be inexorably connecting to one another through computers from here on out, we must find an alternative.” (Lanier, 2010) Though somewhat extreme, Lanier’s statement should not be entirely disregarded. It’s true that computers and digital social networking allow us to connect and converse through technology. It’s equally true that such communications begin to remove basic human attributes that, until 2 decades ago, were intrinsic to human communication. This unforeseen consequence can be observed in the ubiquitous text message or the familiar Facebook post. Such modes of communication don’t allow for vocal inflection, facial expressions, or body language to be transmitted in a conversation. These elements are often important (and sometimes essential) when interpreting another person’s message. However, on the internet, dialogue seems to be interpreted through a limited format that only allows for the delivery of certain conversational aspects. Emoticons (such as J) and written laughter symbols (like “haha”) attempt to replace these lost aspects but they often limit the adequate representation of human emotions. 

          Although digital social networking can inhibit the interpretation of dialogue, it also has an important cultural function in terms of social support networks. In “Small World networks”, a term created by researchers Duncan Watts and Steve Strogatz, “people don’t simply connect at random, increasing the likelihood they will interact with the same people frequently, even in large networks. [This] helps create social capital [which is] that store of behaviors and norms in any large group that lets its members support one another.” (Shirkey, 2008) This phenomenon is exemplified by the website GenderFork.com, a support forum created by gender advocate Sarah Dopp. (Dopp, 2011) This site provides support and advice to anyone facing gender issues in their lives. Social discussions and relevant resources allow users to join a community of people who are experiencing similar situations as themselves. Thanks to digital social networking, these users are able to find support in a community that they might not have otherwise encountered. 

          All in all, the current forms of digital social networking tend to limit the transmission and interpretation of information. Even with such a communication deficiency, this technology allows others to create social networks where others can find friendship, support, and commonality. In the future, the integration of audio-visual stimuli with social networking sites would be beneficial to digital communication. For instance, real-time video streaming integrated with the Facebook chat feature would allow users to converse with one another while browsing Facebook profiles. As well, a more dynamic and reactional interface for the Twitter website could add a human element previously unseen in social networking websites. Even though these features are currently unavailable, technological and social evolution will soon require more immersive digital experiences. No matter the speed of advancement, we can count on one thing: social interaction (whether digital or physical) will always be an integral part of humanity.


RESOURCES:

Dopp, Sarah. (21 Feb 2011). Gender & Beauty lecture notes.

Lanier, J. (2010). You are not a Gadget. New York: Alfred Knopf.

Shirky, C. (2008). Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations (pp. 47-80). New York: Penguin Group.