Is Social Media Making You Anti-Social?

Many of us have experienced the ways in which social media has changed the online world. But should we be worried about it altering our behaviour too?

- Dr Dean Burnett

Recently, I witnessed the unpleasant breakdown of a relationship. One partner accused the other of infidelity and promiscuity; the other retaliated with claims of emotional abuse, drunken behaviour and an inability to perform sexually. All this, in much more sweary language than that conveyed here. It got nasty fast, with children being dragged into it, and friends taking sides and furiously rowing with those who’d taken the other side. All very grim, and it made me vow to avoid any and all of those involved as a result.

That wasn’t difficult though, as I’d never actually met any of them to begin with. This whole breakdown happened on Facebook. Some friends of friends had asked to add me to their network, I’d unthinkingly agreed, and thus I ended up with a front-row seat to their hideous break-up. Ironic, that a social network was essentially responsible for the destruction of so many social bonds.

You’ve no doubt heard many complaints about social networks before. They’re time-consuming, invasive, confusing, compromise your privacy and so on. But do they actually make us antisocial? Is there any credibility to that claim?