It seems like every year we are introduced to some kind of new technology that we need to learn how to use to stay "updated" in the world of new media technology, whether it is being a member of a social networking site, having the newest cell phone that is touch screen and can access the internet. Everyday we are learning about technology that may or may not help to enhance our interpersonal relationships.In this day and age, I feel like new media technology has definitely helped to shape interpersonal relationships in a good way. Now there are so many new technologies that we can use for more than one thing, such as a cell phone. A cell phone now has the capabilities of calling and texting someone, taking a pictures and uploading it to facebook, accessing the internet, any time and any palce. Over the past few years it has been interesting to see how relationships are either benefiting or not benefiting from new technology.
I know that in my personal life, my interpersonal relationships have changed because of new media technology. My cell phone is a piece of technology that is always with me. If I need to get a hold of someone, or someone needs to get a hold of me, they can text or call me, and get a response fairly quick. Text messaging is a new media technology that I truly believe has shaped interpersonal relationships. Texting is something that is easily used by most people, and may be faster to use than to call someone. However, texting does have disadvantages. It removes the more personal aspect of a phone call, messages can be taken out of context, because the receiver doesn't know the tone that the sender is portraying. There have been many times when I have received a text message and I took it completely out of context, and it either caused a misunderstanding or a fight.
I feel that facebook is the number one social networking site that helps maintain relationships. I am able to stay in touch with my friends and family, by looking at their profile, writing on their wall, looking at their pictures, etc... Most of the time if I write on a friend's wall I get a faster response back then if I would have called them. Facebook users vary when it comes to age. At first the site was for college students only, and then later they opened it up to everyone.
Here are some stats to see how much facebook has grown since February 2009:
Facebook reporting nearly 45.3 million active US users in the last 30 days
Facebook growing in every age/gender demographic. Fastest growing segment: Women over 55, up 175.3% in the last 120 days.
Facebook growing faster with women than men in almost every age group. Women comprise 56.2% of Facebook’s audience, up from 54.3% late last year.
45% of Facebook’s US audience is now 26 years old or older
Facebook growing in every age/gender demographic. Fastest growing segment: Women over 55, up 175.3% in the last 120 days.
Facebook growing faster with women than men in almost every age group. Women comprise 56.2% of Facebook’s audience, up from 54.3% late last year.
45% of Facebook’s US audience is now 26 years old or older
The social networking site, Twitter allows a user to follow anyone they want . I have heard of many of my friends having Twitter accounts because it helps when it comes to getting a job in the field of public relations. Everyday, more and more celebrities are joing Twitter, and this allows users to become more familiar with them, and stay updated on what they are doing in their everyday lives. Ellen Degeneres has a Twitter account and decided one day to put on her status anyone who shows up at a certain bus stop dressed as a super hero, would get free tickets to attend a taping of her show. There were at least twenty people who showed up dressed as super heros.
Along with new media technology I don't believe there is any sense of space or time. Now, most cell phones have the Internet on them. So you are able to program them so that your email comes right to your phone. With new media technology you are always connected in some way. Some people like that, others don't.
However, along with all of the new media technology that is developing it can help you stay in touch with friends and family members, who don't get the chance to talk to as often as you like. Applications such as Facebook, myspace, Twitter and blogs help you to stay connected and maintain relationships.
