The New Face of Business: Beautifully Deceiving

Online Social Networking has changed the way we conduct business. Our office can now be predominantly our laptop, or any other metal object that supports (Wi-fi). We are constantly “connected,” and many of us feel a nagging feeling when we’re not. Online social platforms have extended a businesses’ reach.  Between updating social statuses, checking Gmail, and tweeting the latest news, we have become disconnected from an essential part of social interaction: the physical part.


We reside in the world, but we live in the virtual world. Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, that it is still too early to pinpoint how positive or detrimental this shift will be. Some psychologists are already beginning to see certain trends and patterns that can give us an idea of what to expect from this new online culture. The term Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is a new phenomenon that is the product of this need for social connectedness via Internet platforms. Although business has profited very much from interconnectedness, especially globally, at an individual level, the effects are questionable.

THE GOOD MEDIA EFFECTS:
 
•    IQs are rising, according to the Education Testing Service. 
     Much of the increase is due to advances in media assisted   
     learning and interactive game playing.

•    Females are advancing in the field of science. Some studies 
     attribute this to increased numbers of females engaging in 
     interactive game play.

•    The nexus between media and learning is increasingly popular 
      and we are learning more about learning.

•    Communication is increasing across cultures.

•    Media has helped foster public understanding of many crucial 
     issues.

THE BAD MEDIA EFFECTS:

•    Attention spans are decreasing because of exposure to 
     excessively stimulating and fast-paced media. A direct link 
     between exposure to media stimulation and Attention Deficit 
     Disorder (ADD) has surfaced from research.

•    Violence in media causes desensitization to violence. It may 
      facilitate violent acts. Violence may be contagious by 
      observational learning and social agreement.

•    Media-assisted crimes like identity theft and child pornography 
     are taking new forms.

•    Average number of sleep hours per night decreases in inverse 
     proportion to the average number of hours per day of Internet 
     use.

•    Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is increasingly diagnosed by 
      professionals.
Good/Bad Media Effects Retrieved from: Dr. Bernard Luskin in The Media Psychology Effect ;March 29, 2012.

This coin has two sides. Many of us choose to see only one, out of convenience. It is important to be practical about time management in the virtual world vs. the real world. While business may profit, personal social stability may not. If we are aware of the potential associated risks, we are more likely to take caution to avoid them. It’s a matter of common cents, after all.


Bio: SimplyLili is a PhD student in Social Psychology, and the witty author of Essell Magazine; created to disperse knowledge on a plethora of psychological topics in a minimalist and relevant way. She is a self-proclaimed nerd, and her 3 fave things are blogging, rainy days, and pugs.
‘Knowledge-Simply’

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