Adults seem to think that because most of the newer generation uses internet communications like forums and chat rooms, and myspace, we are developing horrible social skills and society is on the decline.

I personally don't agree, I think that sites like CR and Myspace and instant messaging is helping us develop farther in certain areas of the human psyche that were previously unable to develop due to the intimidations factors of talking to others in large groups in person, or simply seeing others' reactions to your own actions/comments.

I would like to know what you all think.

I remember reading an article about this a year or two ago, basically, online communications are a healthy thing (unless taken to extremes (but that's the same for pretty much anything)), and can actually help many people experience a wider range of emotions than they would otherwise get.

Personally, i think it helps many emotional-social skills, but being too reliant on faceless communication will handicap you when it comes to reading body language cues.

So long as it's not the only means of communication though, it's proven fairly healthy thus far, ask me for an updated opinion in five years ^^

I don't think that it is bad. Internet contacting is a healthy way of interaction with other races. It can be a method of expanding your social relations thus making you reach ideas and knowledge you've never encountered before... But still, self control is important. One must consider the fact that you don't know yet the true nature of the person your facing... So, giving out personal information and meeting with someone you've known through internet has it's own risks....

Certainly it is not good, generally speaking. We tend to express ourselves more freely online, but that also isolates us in the online world of our daily lives, meaning less social interactions. I am speaking about most people, since everybody is different mentally.

It's not wise to justify that everybody is dependable of their own, because most people online are minors. Most are around thirteen years old. From a logic point of view not mature enough to know, and think about the consequences of their actions. Yes, there are mature for their age children, but they are not precisely the majority. Back on topic, I believe Internet is good, but one, or two hours at most every day, or week. People staying online most of their free time is most likely going to end up having difficulties in the offline world, namely society.

CR, Myspace, and other sites are big communities. But people tend to make them a virtual world, part of their daily lives, and their lives for some.

What about sarcasm?
Five years? Lol.

I wonder, what if people start using Internet acronyms in rl? like lol, rofl, Lmao, bf, gf, and stuff like that?

The internet is indeed very convenient but people get more and more lazy due to the convenience around them. Spending too much hours on computer will fry your brain eventually. Sure it is a good way of communicating but that will not guarantee a healthy social life due to the lack of emotional expression, intonation etc. You are talking to someone through your monitor although your opponent might be someone from some where, but it will not build your confidence in speech which is a major disadvantage.

The internet has lots of goods and bads, just do everything in moderation and you'll be fine

I think that internet, texting and other forms of indirect contact with the exception of phone calls will eventually null your emotional sense. With this happening it will be very hard to experience much of anything...or at least make it so you don't feel as much emotion as you would have before. I also think that it has the potential to corrode your social sense and you might fall out of social norms.

With aim and other forms of instant messaging, new forms of speech and a new language that can inhibit your ability to spell correctly. So, in the most part, I agree with makimaki_sataans...

Good for communication
Good for trolling
Bad for getting laid by someone who is the age and gender they say they are

I think its good for communication because its an easy and cheap way to keep in touch with someone. espeically things like AIM, MSN and YM. you can continuously talk to people without having to worry about phone bills. the internet isnt the problem and it's not whats making teens be complete pricks when they to elders or their parents. its the idea that being a rebel is "cool" and being nice and speaking properly to people is lame. the internet doesnt suddenly make you lose your ability talk in real life. and i dont know why but this is like a fact but people who are outgoing, no matter how much time they spend online, they will still go out on a regular basis and "communicate" whereas the people that media talks about, the ones who stay in front of a computer the whole day are most likely the ones who were originally shy anyways and probably didnt talk that much even while outside in the real world. having the internet is probably better especially for those types of people never did talk much since they feel more confident on web and are able to "communicate" with people even if it is only in forums or social networking sites.

i don't think it's a good way of communicating.. you can't here the tone of the voice the people your talking to... you can't really tell if there joking or angry.. and you can't tell if they are real or just playing.. but still.. it is fun.. hahahaxd

absolutely righT!

They already are...

I do think that online communication is beneficial up to a point. It could be very useful when it comes to exchanging info and for leisurely things like fandom, but to devote yourself emotionally to faceless people with fake names is rather reckless

Most people use the internet as a form of communication, yes, but what is with this misnomer that being online will cause you have a lack of emotional expression? Not everyone uses the internet in the same way, so whether or not it is detrimental to that user is purely a case by case situation. The web is a just medium which amplifies the ways that people choose to communicate, the manner that they do so is entirely dependent that person.

Online communities such as DeviantArt or the blogosphere gives an individual a chance to share their creativity and thoughts with a multitude of others when they wouldn't normally do so offline. And who is to say no one uses the internet as a segue to spark conversations with those they know in person? Internet contacting can easily expose a being to bigger and better things which can lead topic of discussion amongst friends and family.

Like I said, not everyone uses the internet in the same way -- or even in a positive way for that matter -- and what was described is what I perceive to be healthy and normal. Self-control and common sense are always two factors that always must be taken into consideration.

i think it is bad for social communication. the person is only talking virtually, not face-to-face. it's a big difference. for some people, internet socializing is depriving a individual to begin a actual conversation with other individual in person. so case in point, some people it affects, some people it don't.