Since the beginning of the 21st century, the explosive growth of smartphones and social networking services (SNS) has fundamentally transformed our society. These technologies have facilitated access to information, connected people globally, and generated new economic opportunities.
However, they have also introduced significant disruptions in the quality of human relationships, psychological well-being, privacy, and even the functioning of society itself. This paper provides a multifaceted analysis of the impacts of this “digital revolution” and examines how we should coexist with technology.
Transformation of Communication: The Hidden Risks Behind Convenience
The Rise of Digital Communication
With the widespread use of smartphones and SNS, we are now able to connect with people worldwide instantaneously, overcoming traditional barriers of time and location. This transformation has facilitated long-distance relationships, international business, and bonds with distant family and friends.
The Decline of Real Communication
However, alongside this convenience, there is a troubling decline in face-to-face communication skills. Among younger generations, a decline in the ability to make eye contact and interpret nonverbal cues is becoming increasingly evident. Research from 2019 reveals that excessive smartphone use reduces the ability to accurately read emotions in face-to-face interactions by over 30%, which may severely impact the quality of human relationships and social development.
The Qualitative Shift in “Connection”
Connections made through SNS are often shallow and superficial. While having hundreds of “friends” is now feasible, cultivating genuine, deep friendships has become more challenging. Psychologist Sherry Turkle highlights this phenomenon in her book Alone Together, pointing out that many individuals today are in a state of “together, but alone,” where they share physical space yet remain absorbed in their screens, losing genuine interpersonal interaction.
Information Overload and Distortion of Truth: Literacy in the Digital Age
The Spread of Fake News
The democratization of information via SNS has enabled anyone to become an information provider. While this is revolutionary, it has also facilitated the spread of unreliable information and intentional disinformation. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, it was alleged that Russia orchestrated a disinformation campaign on SNS platforms, a case highlighting the severe threat this poses to democratic foundations.
Echo Chambers and Filter Bubbles
Algorithmic personalization, which tailors information to user preferences, has led to phenomena such as “echo chambers” and “filter bubbles.” These phenomena restrict users to content that reinforces their existing beliefs and values, limiting exposure to differing perspectives. This ultimately deepens societal divides, making mutual understanding and constructive dialogue more challenging.
The Rise of Platform Dominance: The Influence of Tech Giants
The Bright and Dark Sides of the Data Economy
Major IT corporations like Google, Facebook (now Meta), and Amazon are deeply integrated into our daily lives, collecting and leveraging vast amounts of personal data. While this data is used to improve services and develop new products, it also raises concerns over privacy infringement and the manipulation of individual behavior.
Platform Accountability
The 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which Facebook users’ data was misused for political purposes, underscored the immense power and responsibility of platform companies. Following this incident, the European Union enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to strengthen personal data protection. Nonetheless, the pace of regulatory development still lags behind rapid technological advancements.
Addiction and Mental Health: Mental Well-being in the Digital Era
The Reality of Smartphone and SNS Addiction
Excessive dependence on smartphones and SNS has given rise to a new form of addiction. According to a 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) report, approximately 20% of young people globally exhibit signs of smartphone addiction. This dependency is linked to various health issues, including diminished concentration, sleep disorders, and increased anxiety.
SNS and Mental Health
The overuse of SNS, particularly among young people, has led to serious mental health concerns. A 2017 study found that individuals who spend significant time on SNS are more prone to feelings of loneliness and depression. The constant exposure to idealized lifestyles and achievements often lowers self-esteem and increases jealousy through social comparison.
Impact on Parent-Child Relationships: The Rise of “Unloving Parents”
Digital Devices and Parent-Child Communication
The prevalence of smartphones has also significantly impacted parent-child relationships. A phenomenon known as “tech neglect,” where parents devote precious time to their screens instead of their children, has emerged as a growing problem. A 2018 study found that while 70% of children attempted to draw their parents’ attention during phone usage, only 32% of parents responded.
Impact on Attachment Formation
Eye contact and physical touch in early childhood are essential for healthy development and attachment formation. Psychologist Dr. Edward Tronick warns that excessive parental smartphone use can elevate children’s stress levels, potentially leading to attachment disorders and developmental delays over time.
The Issue of “Smartphone Parenting”
The trend of busy parents using smartphones and tablets as “electronic babysitters” is also increasing. This “smartphone parenting” has been linked to delays in language development, reduced social skills, attention deficits, and increased impulsivity in children.
The Impact on Education: Transformations in Learning in the Digital Era
The Potential and Challenges of Online Learning
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning, offering new learning opportunities beyond geographical constraints and personalized educational experiences. However, issues such as the digital divide and a reduction in practical learning and face-to-face communication opportunities have also surfaced.
SNS and Cyberbullying Issues
SNS has become a new platform for bullying. In 2007, Japan first saw this problem with “school backdoor sites.” Today, cyberbullying through platforms like LINE and Instagram has intensified. A 2020 survey found that approximately 15% of Japanese middle and high school students had experienced cyberbullying, which is often more persistent and brutal due to anonymity and 24-hour accessibility.
Wisdom for Living in the Digital Age
While smartphones and SNS have brought substantial convenience and new possibilities to our lives, they have also introduced serious challenges, including shifts in the quality of relationships, distortion of information, privacy infringement, adverse effects on mental health, and the dilution of parent-child relationships.
Eliminating these technologies entirely is unrealistic; rather, we must seek ways to maximize their benefits while minimizing adverse effects.
Individual-Level Initiatives
- Digital Detox: Schedule regular breaks from smartphones and SNS.
- Building Real Relationships: Intentionally increase face-to-face communication.
- Improving Information Literacy: Utilize diverse sources and cultivate critical thinking.
- Strengthening Family Bonds: Create smartphone-free family time for quality interaction.
Societal-Level Initiatives
- Enhancing Digital Education: Integrate media literacy and information ethics into school curricula.
- Regulating Platforms: Implement laws to protect personal data and ensure information transparency.
- Supporting Mental Health: Strengthen measures against digital addiction and related mental health issues.
- Establishing Ethical Technology Standards: Promote AI ethics and human-centered technology development.
Smartphones and SNS can either enrich or distort our lives, depending on how we use them. It is essential for each of us to be mindful, strive for balanced usage, and foster a healthy relationship with technology. Society must collectively address these challenges and pass on a better digital environment to future generations.
While technological progress will not cease, preserving the fundamental value of humanity and human relationships, actively controlling technology, and leveraging it for a better society remain crucial challenges.