The Implications of New Communication Technologies on Society and the Next Generation - Term Paper Example

Improved Communication Technologies – The Double-Edged Sword Of The Generation Next “We are the inmates running the techno-asylum of our own creation. We are free to leave any time we want. The secret lies in redefining the way we interact with our computers in a larger context.” Cooper, A. (1999). Introduction About fifty seven percent of American teenagers create their own content for the internet, in the form of texts, pictures, music or video (Bhuiyan, 2) according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project report. Technological advancements such the computers, mobile phones, video conferencing, short messaging services (sms) and social networking sites (SNS) have certainly revolutionized communications especially the generation Y - born after 1980 with at least “96% of them have joined a social network” (http://socialnomics.net/). However, some contend that some forms of communication, especially emails, “invites more conflict—manipulative and disrespectful behavior that escalates anger and reduces productivity—through the reduction of social cues and depersonalization of the other” (Trunage, 1) with serious implications in both office and student environment. So, has the communication revolution done them good, or has it caused more harm? This essay shall discuss some of the technologies that have been a part of the communication revolution, like mobile phones, short messaging services (sms), computer networking, social networking sites (SNS), video-conferencing, you tube, twitter and so on with respect to the disadvantages and advantages in each. It shall argue that while that advantages abound in each of the said technologies, disadvantages and negative factors do exist in each and ultimately, only their judicious use can do good to the fast-paced younger generation. Since the technological tools are as fast-paced as the generation that uses them so intensely, the consequences too are immediate, thereby warranting more mature and careful handling of various technologies. Negatives of the Communication Revolution Despite the innumerable positive impacts of modern technology in the field of communication, there are some undeniable not desirable aspects. Take for example mobile phones. This innovation in particular has taken many of the world’s societies by storm, especially the generation or Gen Y as they are called. In the United Kingdom, nearly half-the percentage of ten year olds possess mobile phone and the percentage increases to ninety one percent in twelve year old children (The Mobile Life Youth Report cited by Chapman 1). Even in the developing nations, like India, for example, the technology of mobile phones has high penetration and “may cross 500 million by the end of the year, 2010 - a large chunk of its users being children” (Lahiri, 1). However, this intense and rampant use of mobile phones is not without risks. The microwave radiations (Worthington, 1) and electromagnetic emissions from mobile phones may be harmful to the brain tissues of its users, and their limited use has been advised for “children, pregnant women and people suffering from heart ailments” (Lahiri, 1). The health hazards and risks seem comparatively negligible when considers other societal problems and evils perpetrated by these technological advancements. Mobile phones have the provision to send short message services, which has given rise to a lot of controversy in recent times, due to the obscene nature of the texts and the ease of use that helps to spread over a large number of users within minutes. Furthermore, the latest 3G mobile phones have cameras fitted into them which enable pictures, videos and pornographic content to be sent and accessed easily. Though they come under camouflage of adult content (Softpedia, 1) user-friendly technology and availability of gadgets in young hands facilitates its misuse. In addition, the instant messaging text facilities in mobile phones are superior to the short messaging services as they allow the user to find out if the receiver of the message is online and this bestows them with the power of potential misuse like intimidating through text messages and the like. Internet has truly modernized the communication technology in manifold ways. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) enables individuals to communicate in various ways using digitized information transfer techniques, which allows users to enter, store, process, distribute, and receive the same (Rice, Grant, Schmitz & Torobin, pp. 27-55). However, e-mails are synchronous forms of communication in which there is a lapse of time in the exchange of communication, and lead to understanding problems. Here, one has to bear in mind that face-to-face communication is the best way to communicate in terms of providing for maximum body language and other non-verbal cues (Tubbs & Moss, pp.209-11). It is pertinent to understand the Media-Richness Theory (Daft & Lengel, pp.554-71) which suggests that face-to-face communications are the richest (best) as they offer the maximum verbal and non-verbal cues, while other media are considered to be leaner (weaker) because they provide fewer contextual cues and also the response is slower than in face-to-face communications. Therefore, in e-mails where in there is little scope for body language to be conveyed, it is often easy to misinterpret the context of the messages and this may give rise to conflicts. The seriousness of the conflicts has even given rise to the term “flaming” which in this context is described constituting "comments intended to offend others; while somewhat subjective, at the extreme flaming includes obscenities and other inappropriate comments" (Aiken and Waller p. 96). Furthermore, e-mails are frequently used to convey messages across the world to people of different cultures, native languages and organizational environments. Thus, the same message that is sent through the e-mail has the potential of being interpreted and understood differently by different people. For example, an e-mail message warning of a possible tsunami occurrence may create panic in the South East Asian coastal areas which have been badly affected by tsunami once, while the same message may be taken for a joke in Peru or other communities that have never known what a tsunami is. It is therefore understandable that emails my have only limited use official communications “only to the extent that participants have some common ground for shared beliefs, recognize reciprocal expectations, and accept rules for interaction which serve as necessary anchors in the development of conversation (Clark & Schaefer, cited in Riva & Galimberti, p 3). “It is more difficult to grasp the potential implications of forms that are not modeled on a comfortable, twentieth-century mode of communication.” very validly observes The New Media Consortium (p. 3). Social networking sites like ‘The Facebook’, ‘Orkut,’ and ‘Twitter’ are very popular today. So popular that, if SNS Facebook could be politically demarcated country, then it would be “the world’s 4th largest between the United States and Indonesia” and as for ‘Twitter,’ eighty percent of its “usage is on mobile devices…people update anywhere, anytime…” (http://socialnomics.net/). In the virtual world on CMC wherein there is no face-to-face communication, the chances of deception and falsehood are more. This aspect of potential falsehood in communication has evoked many adverse comments. For example, Riva & Galimberti point out that, “It is certainly no accident that members of electronic communities very often adopt false 'nickname' identities, and openly accept them in others. Within the same community, a person may construct and project mask-like identities which function as delegated puppets-agents (Stone, cited in Riva & Galimberti, p. 33). More importantly, Riva & Galimberti warn that, in the process of building such false identities, the user is forced to resort to “wider use of social stereotypes than would be the case in normal conversation if he wishes his identity to be recognized and accepted” (p.33). Another technology which has cut short the obstacles of distance and time and played an important role in globalization is the CMC aided video conferencing. Video conferencing has been studied by researcher John Campbell (2006), and he observes that his research findings “indicate that the media richness and social presence aspects of media choice theory are important considerations for videoconferencing users; User aversion and discomfort during video conferenced meetings has the potential to significantly impact on perceptions of task, processes and performance” (p.93). Communication Revolution - Youngsters’ Life-Savers Riva & Galimberti suggest that communications impact the way the social links are formed, “Communication is thus becoming crucial to our understanding of how social bonds are forged: the view that communication is essentially a social activity is gaining ground” (p14). Much has been said about the harm that the technological innovations have done to the younger generation in the way these technologies are used by them in undesirable ways. If this was indeed the case, then why do nations and people of the world nations promote or even permit their use? The answer probably lies in the way communication itself is viewed, as pointed by Riva & Galimberti. When viewed in a social activity, then the advantages of these technological innovations become obvious. Even more than the obvious benefits of the innovations in communication technology like shrinking of distance and costs, a closer observation reveal far greater benefits to the younger generation. Mobile phones, which have widespread use among teenagers, have a very positive side too. The Mobile Life Survey of the United Kingdom has researched and observed that it comes in handy when parents want to keep track of the children (BBC News, 1). These gadgets help the Gen Y keep alive their social life; nearly seventy eight percent have admitted to this and some teenaged girls have even admitted to the fact that they “would feel 'unwanted' if a whole day went by when their mobile phone did not ring” (Chapman,1 ). Nurturing social communications among the youth – that may be best advocate in favor of mobile phones. The most important point to note here would be that they enable communications between the communities chosen by the user. Therefore, if a teenaged boy may draw a blank face when his mother talks to him; however, the same boy may be having animated conversation with numerous online friends who are interested in music or art like himself on his mobile, chatting or messaging them. Hence, it may be understood that, “Today's technology draws people out of one type of communication into another. It creates another environment for them” (Zlonkevicz , 1). Admittedly short messaging services save costs and help the teenagers still convey the necessary information with ease. Actually this innovation can be put to better use. It can complement the college bulletin board, and the various communities with in the colleges can for very nominal costs, one mobile phone convey the message to many users; this can especially be useful when there a postponement/cancellation of class or real emergency situations like hurricane/thunderstorm warnings and so on. Education of the Gen Y regarding evils of pornography and obscene messaging shall go a long way in discouraging youngsters from using technology for undesirable purposes. E-mails have truly changed the way long distance communications take place. “Email has had a profound effect on the way people keep in touch” states NMC White Paper (2007); “Communications are shorter and more frequent than when letters were the norm; response time has greatly diminished” (p. 2). A 2009 study report of the United States Department of Education has revealed that “on average, online students out performed those receiving face-to-face instruction” (http://socialnomics.net/). Furthermore, the asynchronous nature of e-mails too, has a benefit. Empirical research shows that in a learning environment, despite having little or no experience of computer usage in the past, individuals did not feel negatively about using new technologies such as email, electronic discussion groups and word processing for learning (Scott and Rockwell, pp. 44-62). Other researchers too have supported this and observed that students using e-mails and other such CMC to learn English as a second language, have benefited from using e-mails and computers, as they are induced to write more (Phinney, pp. 189-204). The evolving nature of these innovations comes as an added advantage. For example, it is now possible to use ‘emoticons’ or “emotional icons” (Tubbs & Moss, p.212) which facilitate better understanding of the context in which the verbal message is conveyed. A research conducted by the psychology department of the New Mexico State University, shows that emoticons are viewed positively by the users since it allows them to convey their feeling better, “Users appear to attend to emoticons and interpret them as intended; Thus, an emoticon palette could be a useful tool for users trying to communicate emotional expressions via remote” (Rivera, Cooke, & Bauhs, 1). Therefore e-mails and text messages have more media-rich and do provide channels for better understanding and exchange between different communities. Social Networking Sites and Twitter are not without advantages either. Judith Donath analyzes the issue of whether SNS are able to bring about a super network “without socially assistive tools” and concludes that “One significant draw of SNSs is the appeal of ceaseless novelty—of seeing blog entries, getting new comments, seeing what has changed. Perhaps the basic pleasure that social network sites provide is endless novelty in the flow of new people and new information, and the knowledge that someone is paying attention to you—social grooming for the information age” (p.1). Probably, the key to navigating successfully through these outages and SNS lies in reading the ‘signals’ properly. Donath explains that SNS can indeed offer richer social context for individuals who want to know about those people who he/she knows from the outside. These sites offer the individuals a chance to see who those people are communicating with and the nature of their communications and this provide these individual users of SNS some vital cues for understanding the people they want to study (Holland & Skinner, cited by Donath, 1). Some of the SNS have increased their reliability and trustworthiness by means of their very design; they include a small ‘cost’. To illustrate this further, those who wish to solicit connections of ‘friends’ in the SNS aSmallWorld, are cautious about taking this step, because the ‘cost’ to be paid if the requests that they make are rejected – is banishment. Thus, those who solicit connections are very sure that they know the person to whom they send the request (Price, cited by Donath, 1). This signals credibility of the site. Other sites are designed for differently with specific purposes; for example, LinkedIn is a site for professionals. This site has no provision for uploading photographs, and the profiles of users are in the form of their Curriculum Vitae, of their educational backgrounds and work experience. Since the purpose of the SNS is to offer professional networking, the design prevents any unnecessary information like personal details, gossip (Donath 1). It is hardly surprising then that eighty percent of companies used LinkedIn as their primary tool to scan and select their employees (http://socialnomics.net/). This certainly benefits the Gen Y with better job opportunity prospects. Conclusion Whether people want them or not, the revolution in communication technologies are here to stay and have already impacted the world in many ways. The debate as to whether the said technologies have benefited the younger generation or harmed them appears at the outset to be equally valid on both sides. Some of the technological innovations such as computer, mobile phones, video conferencing, short messaging services (sms) and social networking sites (SNS) have been discussed here with respect to their positive, beneficial aspects and their negative, not-so-beneficial aspects for the younger generation. The adverse effects of the communication technologies range from easy spread of pornography to total misunderstanding and aggressive communications like ‘flaming’ and health hazards as the result of the electromagnetic emissions from the gadgets and so on. Therefore it appears that the mal-effects of these advanced gadgets are more then the so-called advantages, and therefore seem to harm the intense consumers – the Gen Y. However, a closer look has unfolded arguments that indisputably favor the beneficial aspects of the modern technological innovations. From promoting social communication among youngsters, to facilitating employment prospects electronically, they have not only revolutionized the speed with which communications take place, but also changed the way social bonds are formed in a community. Added incentive of conveying emotions with the use of emoticons have enabled more media-richness to text-dependant communications, thereby enabling better understanding of the context of messages across the world. Therefore it can be concluded that since the benefits outnumber the disadvantages, with judicious use of these innovative tools the Gen Y can truly change the future. List of Works Cited Aiken, M., & Waller, B. (2000). Flaming among first-time group support system users. Information & Management, 37, 95-100. Campbell, John (2006). “Media Richness, Communication Apprehension and Participation in Group Videoconferencing” in Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations Volume 1, 2006. 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