Question
Some people believe that technology has made man more sociable while others believe it has made
us less sociable.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Answer
There has been a lot of debate over the past fifteen years about whether social media is really
making people more sociable, or whether the name is in fact ironic. This debate could well be
expanded to include any number of other technologies, as they seem to pose the same problems.
This essay will argue that technology is indeed making us less sociable.
Those who say that technology makes us more sociable have some strong arguments to support
their view. For a start, devices like mobile phones certainly make it easier for people to get in touch
with one another, and applications like Facebook and WhatsApp allow people from all parts of the
world to communicate with each other, making new friends or staying in touch with old ones. Whilst
these points are undoubtedly true, one must ask whether that is genuinely being sociable, or if it is
just a more convenient way of doing something we otherwise would have done. Prior to social
media, we sent letters. Those letters were probably more thoughtful and detailed.
Moreover, technology tends to make people less aware of their surroundings, and less apt to engage
with others. Just look at any café, bus, or waiting room. People barely look up from their phones
now, and many of them have their headphones in. People are more reluctant to engage with each
other on a human level, and prefer sending messages or tweeting. Millions of young people are
addicted to their phones or computers, and withdraw from society, reluctant to form real human
bonds with their peers. So even if technology makes it easier to connect, we are certainly losing true
personal connections.
In conclusion, it appears as though modern technology is attempting to make people more sociable,
but in fact the result is the very opposite of that intention.
