Social Website-Friend or Foe

I was waiting in the bank for my turn and watching the big T.V. put on for customers to pass their time. There was a debate-“ Friend or foe”- set to start on a French channel in which some important looking people were sitting to discuss about a popular socializing web site. There are plenty of websites offering opportunity for people to interact, make friends, share news and views. On one hand the idea seems great. To connect so many people simultaneously, where any information can be exchanged at the click of a mouse, sounds very great. It is great technically also. These things are virtually miracles made by the genius of man’s brain.But if the overall impact and influence on human society are considered, it can be viewed as an enemy in more than one way. Due to these, ‘chat” sites, most of the people become glued to the computers after work. Socializing and live interaction with people has come down to almost zero. This has a negative impact on mental health of people. Man is a social creature. Knowingly or even unknowingly he is influenced by happenings to fellow human beings. If there is a calamity, all people observing it or even hearing about it feel sad. A classic example is the recent rescue of the trapped Chile miners. When they were still trapped, everybody knowing about it was concerned. After their rescue, people world over rejoiced though they did not even know them remotely. Thus when people meet friends, relatives, it is a way of exchanging news and sharing joys and sorrows. A person can speak or vent out his grief, frustration, worries, e.t.c. in front of a friend or neighbour or family member and feel relaxed afterwards. This helps in keeping an individual healthy mentally. But online such personal interaction is not possible. Even if you have video chat, it does not replace the “face to face” warmth of physical chatting. It remains artificial. Due to this lack of human interaction, there is a growing prevalence of depression and anxiety related disorders. In spite of many material comforts, people tend to feel lonely. The counselling psychiatrists offer to the people suffering from depression is what any well meaning close person could have given to the individual, had he been confiding in him and talking to him regularly. These websites are very risky for adolescents and teenagers. In their passion and mental immaturity, they befriend, X,Y, Z or any person who seems to be interesting online. Then inadvertently they give out personal details which may be a security hazard for them and their family members. Young girls expose themselves to risks of being abused and then blackmailed if they rely much on online friends. This is the adverse effect of technology, where faces of girls have been put over nude pictures and then posted online or through picture messages. Childhood obesity is increasing because instead of playing games in their free time, children are sitting on internet and chatting. This is a cause for much concern because individuals who become obese since a very young age carry the risk of developing obesity related diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary artery disease, at much younger age and in more severe form. The academic progress of students who spend much time on online chat also becomes a cause for anxiety for the family. Bright students do not perform as per their potential being distracted by these social websites. Unfortunately they realize it when it is too late. For adults also, it is not a healthy pastime. A grown up person wastes a lot of valuable time exchanging idle comments and messages online. He or she can make better use of this time doing something creative around for self or family. Even family members need to sit together and chat, something which is getting rare as every family member is with computer and accessibility to internet. People can increase their general awareness by reading online news and global events instead of idle chatting. It would sharpen their intellect and personality. In short it can be said that these social websites are like a double edged sword. While having their advantages where necessary, being used for just killing time is a waste of precious time and risky also. One should be prudent while using them. –rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk