Social problems of New Technologies

There are many problems on social interaction due to technology.
For example, instead of meeting up, many people choose to interact on such websites and software as MySpace, Skype, MSN Messenger and Faceparty, and these are only a few.

Technology has progressed, not so much recently, but nowadays people can interact basically with eachother how they would if they met up. Software/websites such as HabboHotel or Second Life, people can interact in similar situations as real life. Also, on MSN and Skype you can be on webcam or video call and basically you are audibly talking through microphone and on webcam, so its basically a face to face conversation.

Mobile phones have had a social effect on many people, as around 50 million people in the UK currently use mobile phones. First of all people used to just call more often and not arrange plans properly and ring when they wanted to meet or for example. But, not mobile phones cause even less sociability due to text, video messaging/calling, mobile internet, mobile MP3's etc.

For example, if i have arranged to meet someone in town centre and i get there and after 1 or 2 minutes after being there, i call or text the person to see where they are. This is a little ridiculous, but alot of people i know do this.

Too add to the problem of unsocialness, schools expect kids to have at least one computer in their household with internet to do research...or things like this!
Which gives children and adults more reason to talk over the internet rather than meeting up.

There are good points to new technology and sociability though such as fa,mily or friends in foreign countries, it is much cheaper to talk online rather than text, call or go and see people in other countries or far away. It is a great way to stay in contact with friends when they have left school, left a job, moved away or just don't go out...

The internet is also a great way of finding out information but isn't always reliable.
It also is starting to make people extremely lazy. For example online shopping - people choose to do their weekly shop online to save them walking places, but this is good because for people who live quite far away from towns and do not have transport, but some people are just getting completely lazy these days. Also, to populate such online shops such as play.com, Tesco Online, Sainsbury's they offer resuctions and more deals than in the actual shops.