Experts: Reliance on technology makes people increasingly isolated from others

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa freshman Kelly Wenman speaks with her family daily. She also sends text messages to a friend who attends Florida State University four or five times a day for emotional support, or just to chat. \nSome experts see disadvantages in using technology as a tool for communication. Ironically, relying too much on such networks could create more feelings of isolation, induce prejudices and exacerbate homesickness, they say. \n“Some people try to dive into something completely new, while some need to step out of their comfort zones,” said Paula Keeton, a senior staff psychologist with University Counseling Service. “But if they’re doing all this interaction online, it kicks people out of balance.” \nReliance on technology for communication seems difficult to curb. Americans spent an average of 186 minutes per visit on the social-networking behemoth Facebook.com in May 2007 – an 89 percent increase from 2006, according to the global Internet marketing research \ncompany comScore. \nAnd 27 percent of 134 million cell phone-owning adults use them for text messaging, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported in 2005. \n“With face-to-face conversations, you have to have the ability to work back and forth a couple times,” said Andy Cinoman, associate director of UI Admissions and director of Orientation Services. “Technology is often a \npoor substitute.” \nInstead, students should seek friendship from others on campus to share experiences, he said. \nKeeton recommends that students join campus groups to find others with \nsimilar interests. \n“It’s all about balance,” she said. “You have to make the act of going to other activities and get involved.” \nAlthough the flexibility and convenience of a quick text or e-mail are a winning combination, face-to-face interaction has not been completely eclipsed. Sunday morning, Wenman’s roommate Whitney Burkhart sat chatting with a friend who was visiting from her hometown, Woodward, Iowa. Burkhart said she plans to go home rarely. \nFor new students, online social networks can quickly frame a relationship. It took only a few Facebook messages for Wenman and her roommate to divide the purchase of furniture for their new room. \n“Face-to-face interaction is better when you can have it, but when it’s not, then it’s good to have the technology,” she said.