A British neuroscientist at Oxford University, Susan Greenfield, is warning that social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo, MySpace and Twitter are damaging the brains of young people.
Among the damage being caused:
– Shortened attention spans
– A lack of empathy
– Need for validation from others
What does this all mean? In her expert opinion, the advancing popularity of social networking can impede the ability of younger generations to communicate effectively in person.
Talk about taking the social out of social networking!
In her words…
“I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these sanitised and easier screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing, skinning and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages of meat on the supermarket shelf.”
Ms. Greenfield also warns of a link between the rise of Internet use and increasing levels of Autism and ADHD.
Does the growing popularity of social networking worry you? Are you concerned about the next generation and the way they will communicate?
