Wiston Papers
The not so sociable media
A new survey reveals that rudeness among social media users is rising. The study by VitalSmarts reports that nearly 80 percent of respondents say there is "rising incivility online" and nearly half of those who took the survey admit that they have ended social media exchanges with someone due to an online spat.
To anyone who spends even a few hours online these findings are not surprising.
Almost 3,000 persons were surveyed and an overwhelming majority (around 80 percent) claim they have witnessed an online argument and believe that people online are less polite than in person.
The authors cite several anecdotes to underscore their findings. And one of the researchers offers five suggestions for improving civility and respect to social media intercourse.
Unsanswered, however, is why this is happening?
I believe anonymity is the principal explanation. We learn early in life to "play well with others" and "be nice to Jane." This socialization dictates how we interact physically and face-to-face with individuals.
Generally we loathe confrontation. Some persons are more averse than others. Even to the degree of passive-aggressive behavior.
But when your communication is faceless, it's easy to remove the cultural impediments in personal interaction and let our emotions flow freely. Unchecked these feelings often result in revealing more about ourselves than would otherwise be true...both good and bad.
We presume there are fewer negative repercussions from rudeness when we do not have to face our antagonist and assume responsibility for our statements or actions. The separation from our conversation partner by cyberspace affords us a degree of protection.
A similar phenomenon occurs on our streets and highways. Road rage is more easily expressed through shouted obsenities and horn honking when we don't have to physically confront our perceive tormentor. Maybe that's why we don't have the term for our impatience when standing in line too long at a grocery store. Most of us just accept it.
Another explanation may be the degree of festering, unresolved, emotional conflicts we keep locked up. Social media allow us to share our feelings and opinions much like an emotional release valve. Letting off steam online is easier than when someone is present to witness our ranting.
Whatever the reasons, there seem to be fewer persons either able or willing to observe what has been coined "netiquette." Perhaps this is symptomatic of our larger society that is increasingly impersonal.
Steve Coon
April 11, 2013
To anyone who spends even a few hours online these findings are not surprising.
Almost 3,000 persons were surveyed and an overwhelming majority (around 80 percent) claim they have witnessed an online argument and believe that people online are less polite than in person.
The authors cite several anecdotes to underscore their findings. And one of the researchers offers five suggestions for improving civility and respect to social media intercourse.
Unsanswered, however, is why this is happening?
I believe anonymity is the principal explanation. We learn early in life to "play well with others" and "be nice to Jane." This socialization dictates how we interact physically and face-to-face with individuals.
Generally we loathe confrontation. Some persons are more averse than others. Even to the degree of passive-aggressive behavior.
But when your communication is faceless, it's easy to remove the cultural impediments in personal interaction and let our emotions flow freely. Unchecked these feelings often result in revealing more about ourselves than would otherwise be true...both good and bad.
We presume there are fewer negative repercussions from rudeness when we do not have to face our antagonist and assume responsibility for our statements or actions. The separation from our conversation partner by cyberspace affords us a degree of protection.
A similar phenomenon occurs on our streets and highways. Road rage is more easily expressed through shouted obsenities and horn honking when we don't have to physically confront our perceive tormentor. Maybe that's why we don't have the term for our impatience when standing in line too long at a grocery store. Most of us just accept it.
Another explanation may be the degree of festering, unresolved, emotional conflicts we keep locked up. Social media allow us to share our feelings and opinions much like an emotional release valve. Letting off steam online is easier than when someone is present to witness our ranting.
Whatever the reasons, there seem to be fewer persons either able or willing to observe what has been coined "netiquette." Perhaps this is symptomatic of our larger society that is increasingly impersonal.
Steve Coon
April 11, 2013
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