Has email, MSN, electronic chatting led to greater interaction between people?

Question

Has the above led to more superficial interaction between people?
Please answer properly as I need this for my computer science project =)

So what if email and MSN electronic chatting don't exist?
How would you feel?

Answer 1

Well I would tend to think so, however, I don't know of any actual data that would support the assumption that interaction between people has been enhanced.

Certainly the internet has had an impact on nearly everyone even those who do not use it! In many ways it has opened communications between people like you and me that would never of had the opportunity with any method before this one.
Even the advent of two way radio failed in the numbers using the internet for communications.

However, at the same time, it has put distance between people making anonymity the hiding place of non concern or in some cases even evil plans.

I am faceless, you are faceless, and that in itself doesn't lead us to a greater interaction. Some would say it even hinders real interaction. So perhaps the second statement you make is more like the real truth. Non face to face or even voice to voice communication is less than real, it can become totally superficial because the outcome depends totally on unknown participants in the conversation. You may be honest and communicate your real feelings and your real ideas but you have no way to judge mine because there is no real connection personally.

Should chat be removed from the internet I honestly wouldn't miss the service (I don't use it much anyway). A lot of what is said in chat is simply chattel and certainly has to be viewed carefully.

Email on the other hand would indeed be a loss for me, although the spam would not be missed, as it does keep communications with certain people more open and more available. However, a phone could easily be used and certainly is more PERSONAL as would be the ability to sit down and have a cup of coffee. If the internet interferes with the ability to have personal face time then it is detrimental. If it replaces real people to people contact it is detrimental. If it is used to enhance these then it has real value.

Good luck on your project, I wish I had real data to give you and I wish I could forecast how the technological communication world will eventually impact all of us. I don't think anyone really knows any more so than when telegraph, telephone, radio, tv, etc became normal day to day standards.
All of these "advances" have all had a certain downside. What matters is what you and I do with the system to promote only the good and not the misuse and isolation that could be created.

Answer 2

Of course if you have ever set in a chat room and listed how many times someone has asked what is the weather were you are, or where are you from, ... You certainly get sense that is true.