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How many times have you heard the phrase “Social networks are making us less social”? Are these technologies, meant for connecting people, really making us less social? What if these technologies have simply changed what it means to be social?
What exactly do people mean by the statement “Making us less social”? Dictionary.com defines the adjective of social as “relating to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations”. This definition can easily pertain to many online interactions, therefore I believe that the true meaning behind this statement is something more akin to this “The transition away from most interactions being face to face towards interactions online is causing a loss of social virtues.”
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In her paper “Social Networking Technology and the Virtues” Shannon Vallor briefly describes what she believes to be essential social virtues, three of these more focused on are patience, honesty, and empathy.
It could be easy for someone to point out interactions through social networks that make little use of these virtues, but should these specific interactions allow us to come to the generalization that using social networks are causing the disappearance of these virtues? Vallor argues that by using virtue ethics to better understand social networks, given the context-sensitivity of this approach, it would not allow for generalizations of all online interactions like “bad” or “good” to be made. Although not every interaction online seems to show these virtues, Vallor offers many examples as to online interactions that do promote these virtues and can even offer users the chance at internalizing them into habits such as expected from face to face interactions.
Following Vallors ideas it can’t be argued that social networks makes all of us less adept with these values, the opposite argument, that social networks do make all of us more adept with these virtues also ceases to stand. So are social networks making us less social? No they are not.
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Social networks are providing an opportunity for a new and unfamiliar approach to internalizing social virtues. This is important to realize, as every minute we waste on negative generalizations of how social networks are demoting these social virtues and writing off social networks possibilities for good, is time that could be better spent working towards maximizing those possibilities and making them more effective.
I was drawn to your post because I liked the idea that social media has changed what it means to be "social" and not necessarily makes us less social. There are definitely advantages to social media that people do not give enough credit for. I love how clear you are in your argument and how you relate it back to Vallor's ideas. However, you tend to summarize Vallor's ideas a lot and lose your own voice towards the middle and I cannot tell your personal opinion on social media. Are there any points that Vallor brings up that you fully do not agree with? Have you ever faced a situation where social media has gone wrong? It would be great to provide a counterexample to common phrases people say such as "social media does not equate to genuine interactions." Overall, very interesting read.
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