Mobile Technology: Its Effect on Communication and Interpersonal Interaction

Technology has influenced the world in many positive ways. I want to research and look at the question of how technology effects communication? I already foresee technology being great for communication when it comes to connecting with family and friends who live far away. But what are the effects of say: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, text messaging, etc. on everyday communication, face to face conversation. I want to explore the possibility of how increased exposure to communicating pathways may actually lessen communication. Mobile technology is anything one can do on their phones. Due to smartphones and the availability of them one can access the internet, therefore; being able to do countless things on their phones. So the research will not be inclusive to texting or voice calls, but will also include the countless applications one can download on a phone. Unfortunately, research has begun to show that mobile technology is also affecting communication in a negative way when it comes to sociability and face-to-face communication. Researchers have found that mobile technology can decrease communication and intimacy. The results too many research studies seem to point out is that mobile technology lessens social interaction and face-to-face communication do to the availability of stimulants online, which requires less outside stimulates such as interaction and body-to-body sociability. Not only does mobile technology decrease social isolation it seems that internet usage can cause feelings of loneliness and busyness as well. This research will try to conclude if this is valid and try to find a correlation between mobile technology usage and relationship satisfaction.