Social media prevent lasting relationships

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Walking around the library today, I observed many students studying. The majority of their computer desktops reflected a popular social network. This occurrence reaffirmed to me the growing degradation of communication in our world.

While texting, "facebooking" and "tweeting" have become the new norm, our ability to communicate one-on-one is suffering. Communication is becoming more shallow and superficial — gone are the days of handwritten letters expressing affection for loved ones. Rather, one might receive a message from a complete stranger on Facebook: "Are you that pretty girl off Instagram?" (True story.)

Our relationships with others are becoming more and more focused around social media. This lessens the confidence one can receive from a true friendship and makes one stressed and unhappy. Theodore Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy."

This immediate and persistent form of communication has changed the way we communicate in the present, but we can prevent it from being permanent. Get off of social media and stop vicariously living through the lives of others. Create offline relationships and make them last for good.

Sarah Ballard

Provo