IMPACT OF INTERNET ON SOCIAL INTERACTION 

• (Relevant for Sociology Syllabus: Paper 1 Sociology – The Discipline & Paper 2- Social Change in Modern Society.)
•  (Relevant for GS Syllabus: Paper1- Effects of globalization on Indian society.)

• It is clear that people spend a large amount of time on the internet at present, and therefore spend less time with actual people. While this use of the Internet has significantly improved the degree of contact available, I strongly believe that it has also had negative effects on the amount and form of social interaction that takes place.
• In terms of enhanced connectivity, the advantages of the Internet are obvious, with people connected across the globe. In the past, it was possible to communicate only by phone or mail, which took time and cost. It also generally meant just keeping in touch with the people you already knew. This has changed drastically with the internet. Online communities that are global in scope have been created by email and social networking sites, and they have fostered contact between people and countries that we would not have considered possible in the not too distant past.
• That said, in my opinion, there is no question that this has had detrimental effects on social interaction. People are spending hours of their time online, chatting, and on forums, particularly the younger generation. While this may be helpful, it is definitely not the same as actual human contact and does not require the same ability. In order to grow their own interpersonal skills, it is crucial that kids have and sustain real friendships. Not only this, if people spend much of their time talking online and not mixing in their neighbourhoods, it can also have detrimental effects on local communities and may contribute to feelings of alienation for those people who do not have a ‘real’ person to turn to in times of need.
• In conclusion, I believe the internet has certainly been helpful, but there are legitimate reasons to worry about our societies’ social interaction. It is critical, therefore, that we maintain a balance between our online lives and our interaction with real human beings.