Nowadays we are living in a world where social media is a heated topic and often discussed.

While a number of detrimental effects on human relationship might be caused due to

modernization of communication, I agree with the opinion that media platforms play a major
role in connecting people and facilitating socialization.

It is certainly true that the availability of new communication technologies can lead to
adverse consequences on interpersonal relationship. One noticeable outcome is the
significant decrease in face-to-face interaction between individuals. In the past, people value
the intimacy of relationship by spending time with their closed ones. Today, however, due to
the existence of Internet and social networking sites, people would play around with their
devices for hours instead of making direct communication on social occasion. For instance, it
is not unusual to catch sight of groups of youngsters staying glued to their smartphones at a
coffee shop for hours on end. This may result in the reduction in relationship quality and
social isolation as people tend to abandon their social life. In addition, personal privacy can
be greatly affected since certain aspects of an individual might be revealed intentionally or
unintentionally. In particular, when people make comments and interact with their friends on
social sites such as Facebook, their actions are exposed publicly. This could lead to
relationship strain as some aspects might not please everyone in one’s network.

On the other hand, I believe that online interaction is not without its benefits. First,
geographical distance is no longer a barrier to people on different parts of the world. In the
old days, interaction between individuals in remote area was much more difficult and time-
consuming as it was limited to written letters or telegrams. Nowadays, the advent of Internet
has completely changed the conventional communication methods and made way for people
to keep in touch with their closed ones living far away from them. For instance, students
studying abroad can resort to Facebook or Skype to stay connected to their families and
friends as the communication gap is closed. Consequently, this helps people maintain their
relationships regardless of distance. Secondly, media platforms give people the chance to
expand their social circle. Online sites such as Facebook or Instagram allow individuals to
discover those who share mutual interests, which makes it possible for them to communicate
with a number of global strangers without any effort or travel by only a click. This helps in
developing new relationships and providing an opportunity to learn about diverse cultures.

In conclusion, although excessive use of networking platforms can result in negative effects
on human relationship, I argue they are outweighed by the positives that social media
participation brings to users.