Blog 6

The roles of the Internet plays such an important role in our culture. Every entity of wordily life if somehow intertwined with technology. Technologies such as cell phones, websites, social networks, blogs and computers are transforming the way we mesh together in our society today.

In Lenhart's research on teens and texting, several focus groups of different ages were asked questions about why and how they use their cell phones. The results concluded that parents wanted their teen or younger tween to have a phone for safety reasons but admit that mostly the teen wanted it to talk to friends. Some focus groups of the teens said that their parents wanted them to have the phone. I thought this finding to be surprising because it seems like the child would be begging for a phone. Also, the research touched on how teens did not mind being accessible all of the time to others. They said they did not find a phone call or text inconvenient. I am the opposite of that and feel that one of the most annoying things about having a phone and email is being on call all of the time. I thought it was interesting how many of the younger teens did not use the cell phone for the Internet activity but instead still relied on the computer. As they grow older, the study revealed the teens had their own jobs, which means they can afford their own plan resulting in their Internet acivity to be on their cell phone. I related more to the younger teen because I use my computer more for my Internet even though I do have Internet access on my phone.


I like Bayam's take on interpersonal relationships. Because the cell phone study done by Lenhart supported the idea that teens and parents find their communication better because of cell phones, I was confidant that Bayam agreed that because of the Internet, cell phones and other technologies, communication social ties are strengthened because of their existence. Even though there was a few excerpts that stated some research shows friendships more developed when formed face to face as well as partners who spend less time together and more time via Internet are less likely to share personal problems. Thus, as a cynic I would gather from these two sentences that there is a support of the issue that not all is better when communication is done primarily through the Internet. That there is still something to be said about looking someone in the face, spending quality time with them and sharing in each other's trials and tribulations. However, Bayam explains that as people are still trying to compare "online" and "offline" relationships the two differ so greatly they must not be compared. He explains in an analogy early in Chapter 6 about a relationship that developed over the internet that probably would not be developed if they would have met face to face. Their age difference and language barrier would have most likely set them too much apart in a social setting. However, because of the Internet their friendship has grown and flourished.

I believe that relationships grow stronger because of the people involved in the relationship. If they use the cell phone to call each other or IM every night at a certain time, I believe they are strengthening their ties together. On the flip side, I believe that many relationships are strong without using any technology to communicate and there is no void of any kind in which the Internet has to fill.

My hope is that my children will never text me goodnight from down the hall in our home. That as more and more of us accept the newest technology as a way of life, I hope that more and more of us will create boundaries and that we will keep some type of balance over the phenomenon of digital communication.