Osamu Inoshita, Professor, Faculty of Policy Management
Does the electronic network change Interpersonal relationships?
30 years ago, communication tools for Keio University students were limited to writing letters or making calls on fixed-line phones as the only alternative to talking face-to-face. However, communication tools available to Keio students today have become more advanced and diversified than ever. “New electronic devices” are double-edged swords. Stop for a moment to think about how you can use these tools in your own way, finding clues from Professor Inoshita, a specialist in social psychology and higher education.
New electronic tools are changing our lives. If we use electronic communication tools, we can immediately contact with “anyone, anytime, and anywhere”. This has a double-sided effect, in that it is convenient but can also be inconvenient at the same time. When new electronic media and channels grow popular, (only) their convenience is emphasized.” However, once widespread, negative effects that went unnoticed until then start to become visible.
Even in a situation where a person is talking seriously with someone face-to-face, communication via electronic network can arrogantly interrupt them. When an electronic sound goes off, the face-to-face conversation that was established until then is interrupted abruptly. Even though the speaker is talking earnestly, the listener’s attention may drift toward the cell phone, and not enough attention will be paid to the speaker anymore. This is supposed to be a rude attitude. However, it seems that we all have gotten used to such situations recently. Thus, without even noticing, our attitude of actually concentrating to listen to someone is weakened. It is no wonder why more young people today can make easy conversations with others but have difficulty having deep conversations.
Even when people “tweet” in various SNSs such as Twitter or Facebook, there is a pretense that “you shouldn’t care” if no one listens. “Tweet” in English originally means the “singing of birds”. Since this word was replaced in Japanese as “tsubuyaki” (murmur), its nuance has changed, and “tsubuyaki” sometimes becomes “a grumble” or a moan. It seems that it tends to be “talking to oneself” rather than sending out a message to others.
A new medium makes an impact on communication. However, the fundamentals of how people create a relationship with others should not be determined by the medium. Communication that relies on electronic networks can work both positively and negatively, depending on how we utilize such tools and environment. Merits and demerits do not exist within the tools themselves. Tools can only serve to increase our inner feelings of anxiety, desire, hope and dependence. What should be called into question is not the tool or technology itself but the humans who use them.
*Position titles, etc., are those at the time of publishing.