SOCIAL MEDIA: A TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE HUMAN INTERACTION?
By: Yusuff Uthman Adekola
With no manifestation of any doubt, it is quite assertable that interaction, amongst the human race, is traceable to the inception of the universe as an entity. Going by the most widely accepted school of thought as to the creation of earth by an Almighty Supernatural Being, as against the Big Bang Theory, amongst others, the creation of the first human beings, Adam and Eve did quintessentially lead to the manifestation of the first known human interaction. The duo did have an interpersonal relationship which unavoidably evinced interaction. And ,subsequently, when the first man and woman were eventually on the soil of planet earth, and gave birth to offsprings, there necessarily emanated an expansion of the interaction circle.
Significantly, from that period —which is now layered with numerous centuries— to this contemporary age, the human race has definitely grown in expansive multitudes. Resultant to this, interaction has also consequently met with intricacies as to limitations arising from inter-boundary and inter-coastal exchange of information: distance has overtime proved a baneful problem to communication and interaction between and amongst humans. Though, science and technology have unceasingly proffered various solutions —ranging from the fax, letter posting, landline, et cetera— there has perpetually been the need to bridge the global communication rift, by dint of an easily accessible tool; hence, the introduction of the social media as the deux ex machina of the modern world's yearn for easy, efficient, and smooth interspatial interaction.
From the foregoing, for anyone to stand by the assertion that the social media platforms are not tools for effective human interaction is to comfortably but pitiably ensconce in the pre-modern sofa of distance-restrained communication. The reason is not a far-fetched one: it is simply because the springing up of the various social media that there are has prominently made communication and interaction easy amongst humans — rich or poor— and across races —black or white—. Thus, the world is now being referred to as a global village where seamless interaction across distances has been made possible through such social media as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Tumblr and so forth. Information, which is vital to humans' meaningful existence, is also now easily and efficiently dispensed to the whole world, even when the informant is right at a corner of his or her house.
In addition, the social media have, to a significant magnitude, helped to curtail the natural situation of missing one's loved ones, when not close to them, perhaps as a result of a journey. With the presence of the social media, the cutting of contact from friends and relatives due to distance has become vehemently defied so much so that one conveniently ensues a chat —which may be video or graphical— with anybody around the whole wide world and maintains the needed human interaction and intimacy, provided there is a functional internet service. That anybody, in this present time, would complain not to have been able to interact with some others owing to spatial farness may, undoubtably, be that he or she is not engaged in social media activities, for whatever reason. This is because, even when one is not chatting, interaction could be discernibly observable through the different posts by different people.
Again, like the web of a spider has its tiny wools intertwined, social media has estimably helped allow for a great deal of networking possibilities. If the social media be prudently and efficiently utilised, one would avail oneself of the ample opportunity inherent in it. Happily, through the use of the social media, interaction could be dragged beyond its social function and brought into monetary use. By getting oneself networked with others, one's goods and services could be brought into a wider customer area, by means of the virtual stores of the internet. In fact, inter-continental boundaries have not been able to deter this possibility, as there is the availability of shipping. Moreover, whatever skill one has could be advertised through the various social media and, through this, one has the chance of been easily known and massively sought for one's service(s). With these, effective interpersonal and Intersocietal interactions are reflected.
To add more, the world has now come to an age where even introverts have encouragedly found a means through which they undisturbedly let out their probably timid thoughts. Whereas they may not be able to confidently assert themselves in the midst of their peers, they find solace in pouring out their caged opinions through the various social media platforms. For them, ease of interaction, expression and communication are found through their use of the social media. Consequent upon this, rather than being estranged from their fellow humans due to their reserved nature, they are brought closer to friends through their social media presence. Now, would it not be unnecessary to ask whether the social media have been effective tools for human interaction?
In conclusion, it is important to reiterate that the social media have always proved, right, their being not just a tool, but an eminently beneficial one to mankind. They have consistently advanced human interaction by bringing ease to it. Of course, many who never dreamed of having friends across continents have had that come true, still owing to the availability of the social media. To close it all, one must mention that the pivotal role of the social media in human interaction is beyond overestimation.
WRITER'S BIO:
Yusuff Uthman Adekola, presently a student of the University of Ibadan, is a campus journalist, a poet and an essayist who believes in the correctional cum enlightening power that the pen commands. He can be reached via +2348166599760 ; adekolayusuff@gmail.com ; FB: facebook.com/adecaller01
Yusuff Uthman Adekola, presently a student of the University of Ibadan, is a campus journalist, a poet and an essayist who believes in the correctional cum enlightening power that the pen commands. He can be reached via +2348166599760 ; adekolayusuff@gmail.com ; FB: facebook.com/adecaller01
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