Maintaining Social Skills: In-Person vs. Online Communication - Essay Sample

Introduction

I believe that we both acknowledge that the maintenance of social skills is an essential aspect among people in the community. It is because social techniques facilitate effective communication and mutual understanding. In-person meetings is a reliable means of sending information since users can employ non-verbal methods such as facial expressions and tonal variations. In the modern world, innovations have led to new communication strategies that rely on online platforms, mobile phones, and computers (Gustafsson et al., 2016). It caused a reduction in people's desire to meet up and exchange ideas or information. There are two perspectives on the value of in-person conversations. The development of online communication has various benefits, such as allowing communication among individuals from different nations across the globe. But the deprivation of face to face meetings has adverse effects on the social world. For example, it undermines people's ability to show respect and compassion, which helps maintain relationships and solve arguments. It is a significant concern for analysts such as Sherry Turkle, who wrote a book to showcase the value of employing in-person talks in society (Turkle et al., 2017). For instance, it ensures the strengthening of social groups, the growth of businesses, maintenance of respect among individuals, and development of individual skills. Brother, I know that you believe that face to face is not an essential means of communication, but I hope through this writing, we can reach an agreement on the matter.

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Opposing View

As my younger sibling, I understand that the current use of texting and emails facilitated your opinion on the aspect of in-person meetings. It is a fact that the young generation tends to prefer communicating with their phones to having in-person conversations since it is more convenient (Gustafsson et al., 2016). I learned that you do not like having a face to face conversation since you avoid personal interactions with our parents and me. There are advantages of employing online communication; hence I comprehend why you have a strong belief in modern technology. For example, firms use video conferencing during meetings that require interaction among partners across the globe (Holmström, 2018). It reduces the number of expenses and enforces time management. Emails and memos make it possible for companies to maintain a formal relationship with their supplies, investors, and workers (Gustafsson et al., 2016). It also enables individuals to conduct activities such as conveniently ordering a product. Modern technology created job opportunities since users can get money through using business apps or becoming social media influencers. It allows individuals such as YouTuber David Dobrik to develop their careers and become millionaires (Holmström, 2018). Advanced technology enables its users to communicate with friends and loved ones in different geographical locations through social media or Facetime. YouTube and video games help people to curb boredom and eradiate loneliness during their free time.

Importance of Face to Face Meetings

Maintains Social Relationships

Face to face conversations helps in strengthening relations between family members and loved ones. It is because the method allows people to show their emotions on various issues, enabling them to know each other better. One can evaluate a person's opinion by assessing one's gestures or facial expressions. In-person meetings enables individuals to detect when a person's being dishonest. It is because people tend to avoid eye contact also change tone when lying to others. During group discussions, my classmates and I hold in-person meetings which aid us in learning more about the members. It is a strategy that helps my study group in avoiding misunderstanding caused by miscommunication thus enables us to finish the assignments in good time. I have classmates from different cultural and religious backgrounds. The idea of meeting one on one allows us to appreciate each other's beliefs, hence encouraging a sense of unity. I know that you keep in touch with your childhood friends who moved to other regions through online communication. It is essential to note that it affected your ability to make new friends at your current school. You spend a lot of your time scrolling through your phone rather than interacting with other people.

Over the years, a decrease in the use of face to face conversations made people less concerned about their loved ones and colleagues (Turkle et al., 2017). It is difficult for parents to maintain excellent communication with their children through texting. People need to have one on one conversation since it increases the chances of being transparent and sincere. Modern technology created job opportunities since people can indeed work from home, but it helped in destroying families' ability to have personal interactions (Abrol et al., 2017). Parents do not have time to spend with their children to know their challenges and provide them with guidelines. Guardians tend to post their children's pictures on social media platforms to compensate for the love and attention that they are not giving them at home (Turkle et al., 2017). Parents should take time to communicate with kids and act as good role models, which can help them deal with problems in the future. That is why our parents always have dinner with us so that we share our academic achievements and challenges with each other.

Ensures Success in Firms

Business meetings that allow personal interactions ensure that people maintain the aspect of trust through ensuring transparency (Colbert et al., 2016). It enables employees to express their ideas and opinions to their employers and firms' stakeholders. In-person communication encourages individuals to have a mutual understanding of business plans or strategies before their implementation. It facilitates a sense of unity, which ensures an increase in sales, also customer satisfaction, and enables the accomplishment of goals. It is a fact that videoconferencing cannot help in solving disagreements within a firm (Colbert et al., 2016). It is because the technique does not allow effective turn-taking, which can facilitate misunderstanding. It is vital to note that face to face interactions can help during the mediation process since individuals can express their perspectives and emotions through non-verbal expressions. It can reduce the risk of businesses in recording low sales and profits after losing clients or investors.

Enforces Respect in the Society

In-person conversation enables individuals to maintain the aspect of respect since they use courtesy expressions such as sorry, and thank you (Ehret & Taboada, 2020). It aids people in maintaining a good relationship with each other. People can use social media to share their opinions through the comment section without giving their identification details. It allows individuals to communicate using harsh words, which tend to be disrespectful. Users tend to send rude comments on people's posts due to jealousy or trying to project their insecurities onto others (Ehret & Taboada, 2020). Over the years, the number of people suffering from anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues increased due to cyberbullying (Lowry et al., 2016). I experienced online criticism through my Facebook account, which made me become socially inactive since I felt less confident in myself.

Development of Personal Skills

During my leisure time, socializing with friends and colleagues is my primary technique of keeping myself entertainment. It allows me to have time to spend alone, which strengthens my creativity and problem-solving skills. Most teenagers get addicted to using smartphones and computers since they rely on them for entertainment by watching YouTube and playing video games (Abrol et al., 2017).

Conclusion

In conclusion, I know that it is difficult for you to understand that we need in-person meetings since you want to become a successful YouTuber in the future. The truth is that face-to-face conversations are a vital social aspect that people need to employ to ensure reliable connections, maintenance of respect, and creativity in society. I hope that we can have one on one talks from now on so that I can get a chance to be more involved in your life.

References

Abrol, E., Groszmann, M., Pitman, A., Hough, R., Taylor, R. M., & Aref-Adib, G. (2017). Exploring the digital technology preferences of teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer and survivors: a cross-sectional service evaluation questionnaire. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 11(6), 670-682. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11764-017-0618-z

Colbert, A., Yee, N., & George, G. (2016). The digital workforce and the workplace of the future. https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amj.2016.4003

Ehret, K., & Taboada, M. (2020). Are online news comments like face-to-face conversation? A multi-dimensional analysis of an emerging register. Register Studies, 2(1), 1-36. https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/rs.19012.ehr

Gustafsson, E., Brisson, J., Mailloux, D., Mainville, M., Beaulieu, C., & Sirois, S. (2016). Do Infants Recognize Engagement in Social Interactions? The Case of FacetoFace Conversation. Infancy, 21(5), 685-696. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/infa.12135

Holmström, J. (2018). Recombination in digital innovation: Challenges, opportunities, and the importance of a theoretical framework. Information and organization, 28(2), 107-110. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471772718300757

Lowry, P. B., Zhang, J., Wang, C., & Siponen, M. (2016). Why do adults engage in cyberbullying on social media? An integration of online disinhibition and deindividuation effects with the social structure and social learning model. Information Systems Research, 27(4), 962-986. https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/isre.2016.0671

Turkle, S., Essig, T., & Russell, G. I. (2017). Afterword: Reclaiming psychoanalysis: Sherry Turkle in conversation with the Editors. Psychoanalytic Perspectives, 14(2), 237-248. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1551806X.2017.1304122