Face to Facebook
Have we replaced personal contact with technology?
When Jared Whitley really wants to work without distraction, he will retreat to the one room in his house without a wireless Internet signal.
It helps him avoid the temptation to check his e-mail, log into Facebook or peruse news-oriented sites such as the Drudge Report.
"Since there are so many different ways for the Internet to entertain, inform and connect an individual, anyone can drown in this great ocean called the Internet," Whitley said in an e-mail interview.
A 2006 study from Stanford University showed nearly one out of eight Americans suffers from at least one sign of problematic Internet use. Signs include finding it difficult to keep from searching the Web, staying online longer than intended or having felt a need to cut back on Internet use.
But having a "problematic" behavior doesn't necessarily translate into addiction, social isolation or other extreme scenarios that can result from being online too much.
In fact, research shows the majority of people find that technology enhances their life and is a useful tool for both business and personal pursuits, said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which is a nonprofit and nonpartisan research group.
"There are some portions of Americans who are unhappy with the constant connectivity and are stressed out by information overload, but the majority of folks say these technologies 'serve my needs' and are useful," Rainie said. "Most people use things such as the Internet and e-mail as a supplement to other things that they do."
For Whitley, the Internet has become "incalculably valuable" in his personal and professional life. He works as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Utah's policy and regularly uses sites such as Facebook to network and stay in touch with family, friends and business connections.
"I find, for example, with my church friends that I have much more to talk about with the active Facebook users on Sunday than otherwise," he said. "I'm able to maintain contact with friends from high school on the other side of the continent whom I'm never able to talk to otherwise."
There are situations, however, where the Internet and other modern technologies have led to negative situations. In 2007, the story of a 13-year-old girl made worldwide news after it was reported she committed suicide as result of an online hoax and cyber-bullying.
With cell phones, there are countless media reports about the dangers of young adults texting inappropriate pictures to one another. It's a trend known as "sexting," and it's estimated as many as 20 percent of teens participate in this activity.
Recent comments
The problem isn't so much the being connected/having friends. People...
More than that | Oct. 26, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.
Go ahead, grab some fast foods, snacks and then gorge yourselves on...
Obesity & The Internet! | Oct. 26, 2009 at 8:14 a.m.
Facebook is good and bad. Like others have stated, it has provided me...
Good and Bad | Oct. 26, 2009 at 8:10 a.m.
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Man dies in dirt bike crash
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
159 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
If you're shopping online for gifts, take care. While there are some...
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...


