Social media impairs real-world communication abilities

I love a good snow day as much as anybody, but Zoom classes give me inevitable flashbacks to the block schedule, COVID and headaches from staring at computer screens all day. All it took was two days of little face-to-face interaction to make me crave going to class again, even if I have to begrudgingly pull myself out of bed some (alright, most) mornings.

I finished Sherry Turkle’s “Reclaiming Conversation” a day before Snowmageddon, and I must say, it provided plenty to think about while cooped up and away from others.

Turkle is a renowned sociologist and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she studies the relationship between people and technology. In “Reclaiming Conversation,” she examines how people’s dependency on their phones significantly impacts interpersonal communication.

I don’t know about you, but I never leave the house without my phone. It has unfortunately become a lifeline, storing everything from my class schedule to the contact information for everyone in my life. I’ve certainly fallen victim to avoiding uncomfortable face-toface conversations in favor of short texts sent with a spattering of emojis intended to indicate my mood.

Turkle notes that this is the default of our generation. We grew up in the age of technology—cell phones became increasingly advanced as we entered young adulthood. Sending a quick text message became second nature, and because of that, in-person interactions became increasingly foreign.

As someone who would rather hang up the phone than leave a message after being sent to voicemail, Turkle’s message resonated with me. While technology has several benefits, younger generations have grown accustomed to “hiding behind the screen,” turning to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to share sentiments and greetings instead of reaching out in person.

Turkle also examines the anxiety of silence. Think about it—how often are you truly left alone with your thoughts? Chances are there is always something around to distract you, whether it is background noise from the television or music from your phone. She suggests that the more we become comfortable with self-solitude, the more we will become comfortable with others and combat the “alone together” space we’ve created.

While the concept of being “alone together” seems somewhat contradictory, think about moments like high school sleepovers or waking up with your roommates. Chances are, you’re in a room with your friends but distracted by technology. It’s scrolling on your phones and sending TikToks back and forth without actually talking to the person you’re five feet away from.

Though some would argue social media fosters increased connection, it simultaneously creates a sense of social isolation. Online, you have the ability to tailor your presence to your liking—regardless of whether it reflects reality. When forced to step outside of your digital comfort zone, feelings of anxiety heighten as you are unsure how to act in an unfiltered, uneditable environment.

“Reclaiming Conversation” left me thinking about my own social media consumption and the persona I craft in digital spaces. While it’s impossible to catalog every nugget of Turkle’s wisdom and advice, I find the urge to reconsider how we communicate with one another to be the most compelling. In a world where connection seems almost instantaneous, Turkle reminds us to take a step back and what it really means to engage in communication with another human being.