Internet Use ≠ Social Isolation

Posted on | May 5, 2009 | 1 Comment

A consensus is emerging about the Internet’s effects on social life – in Canada and other developed countries. It maintains that the Internet is aiding the transformation of relations – with family and relatives, with community members, in voluntary organizations, and at work (not studied here). Although there has been much talk about negative effects of the Internet, the evidence presented here does not support the notion that the Internet is increasing social isolation. Rather, research is showing that the Internet is fostering participation with community members and in social organizations. To a great extent, this is basically an enhancement of existing relationships – people now have other media to connect them. In addition to in-person encounters, scheduled meetings, landline and mobile phones, they can email, chat online, send instant messages, blog and comment, and stay mutually aware through social networking sites.

The above is taken from a recently published Canadian study on how use of the internet affects social life and civic participation. The study contradicts the common view of the lonely geek, married to the computer screen, friendless and unsociable. Rather, it indicates that the Web has fostered, and continues to foster, not only new forms of social engagement but also new forms of civic participation. This is an intelligent study that does not try to argue that the new realities are in some way better than pre-Internet forms of engagement. Instead, it shows simply that the nature of social participation is necessarily different from before, suggesting that:

Social transformation is occurring along with participation, but evidence shows that we should expect neither a dysfunctional society of loners nor a blissful society of happy networkers. Rather, we are facing a society that is differently cohesive from the one we have known.

Thanks to George Siemens for the link.

Technorati Tags: Statistics Canada, social engagement, civic participation, internet use

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