Seasons

Although it has been shown that communicating online can diminish interpersonal skills or deter the building of face-to-face interactions, there are some benefits of communicating via social media. Pizzitola states that communicating online is an effective way for kids to get into contact with one another—so long as there is no bullying involved. Shy or more isolated kids will have a chance to open up and practice their social skills while interacting with others online, according to Pizzitola.

A 2006 study conducted at the University of Sydney, Australia, suggests that the “Internet may be used as a forum for expanding social networks and consequently enhancing the change of meaningful relationships, self-confidence, social abilities and social support,” so long as a person is not online for extended periods of time. Moreover the study stated that “‘chat’ users who are socially fearful may be using the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which, may help them improve interaction with offline, face-to-face, social environments.”

The Internet and social media have reached a point of no return and will only become more intricate as the years go on. The days of face-to-face communication being the sole means of interaction are long gone, but social media has proven to be beneficial to an exponentially large audience, and will continue to grow due to new innovations. If used in excess, communicating via cyberspace can inhibit teens’ communication skills, but if used in moderation, can help them become more comfortable communicating with their peers if they are too shy to do so in person. More importantly, “the key is to make sure your kids know that real living takes place offline,” according to