Can be internet a substitute for social real life?

Trying to be objective, and having studied this with a master's student of psychology who made this research the focus of his education, I have to say that for some individuals, having an online relationship is better for them. In cases of crippling social anxiety, online interaction with people is a very real way for them to socialize at all. The internet today allows people to be a part of a like-minded community outside of their immediate physical area. .

Hi, Icesmile! I enjoy both, although I am something of a hermit most of the time. I socialize in person with only a few people, but many on line.

i agree with your profesor. Internet it's no a substitute for the real life. It can't be possible that a screen replace all the emotions that the real life produce, but if you use the internet complementary to your real life, would be very useful for your relationships

Yes, we must apportion time. We can spend time on the internet. However,we must make time for the family. We must have occasions where the family members will meet like at all meals. Then there is family time at church, going to the malls together. Once a while, visit a relative. That will be healthy and put us off the Internet for a while.

I think the internet can make us feel that we are part of a community. Social networking sites enable us to communicate with people we may not have ever interacted with in real life. It broadens our social network with the least imput or effort from us. It is useful having the world and all it's wares and information at our finger tips. I myself constantly find myself saying to others 'I bet you'll find that on the internet' when they stand there 'scratching their heads' over some problem or issue. However, this social revolution has consequences for us if not used in moderation. I see this in many of the young people I work with who have little in the way of communication skills and spend copious amounts of time up in their rooms at home on the computer. Often it becomes a serious family issue because due to lack of communication the young person becomes isolated from the family network, interaction is limited and this results in arguements usually between parent and child. These arguements usually lead to the computer being confiscated as a punishment. When it is eventually returned the young person again locks themselves away and the cycle repeats itself. Anyway, why bother to talk to your irritating parents and siblings when you can spend all night chatting to your mates who are not going to make any demands on you. The problem is you need social skills if you are to function in the real world but it requires real effort and input from us than just chatting on line. When you socialise on line you don't need to use body language or facial expression for a start and you can say whatever you like often overstepping the boundaries of what is considered acceptable to say, eg being sexually explicit, spreading rumours or bullying. So when we sit opposite our friends laughing, drinking and 'putting the world to rights' are we not showing who we realy are through our personalities and body language. We become more than just someone who just spouts 'words'.

no. while i believe that you can get some comfort and at some times a friendship that may keep your head above the water, i don't think that anything can substitute some real life socialization. close contact is important, physical contact as well... you can't really get either through the internet even if you can see and hear other people.

Human contact is definitely still more important than the internet; if you ask me. It's what keeps us..sane. In my opinion, a computer screen can NEVER replace a family member, friend, etc. I agree that it's a great medium to keep in touch with people - especially friends that you've lost touch with, but it's so impersonal..That we've lost the personal touch of writing "snail mail" letters and seeing people in person. I'll admit that I'm actually part of this. A lot of the time, when I don't have time to call my friends or family members, I'll just write on their wall over Facebook or send them a quick text.

I think the internet is a great place to have a very good chat as well as earn money if you are in a position where as you can not get out of your house to see people.I think it is a nice place to make friend as well.I think that if you can get out and about to see people is better but when you have no choice in it i think that you can still have a bit of a social life by talking to people who are maybe stuck indoors like you are.

hi ice, nothing can replace socializing with real people, not just virtual. the internet can fill in the gap. cheers! ann

This is the era of super technology. This is helping us to know more about the other side of the bridge. Why not make full use of this to help ourselves and our family life by learning more about the world. This has created cross ventilation to our life. So breathe easy and breathe better for a more healthy and wealthy life.

No way. You must have a real life if you want to enjoy your life. you need friends, family and other people. If you only have virtual life you will get depressed and you can get sick.

real life society is number one and never can be changed with internet, if i may say. i take this into consideration that people always choose and select with whom they wanna have such a relationship whether to be friends, soulmate, or whatever you name it. a person may choose another good person as his/ her friend. he/ she certainly avoiding such a criminal or bad guys out there. how about internet? i can't even know who exactly the person i'm talking to. i have no idea about his/her behavior, characteristics, or origin. can you imagine to have a friend that you know as a murder, robber, or raper? i couldn't imagine that, unfortunately, they are found through internet in a social circle. i'm not talking that everybody look like this, but some of them do. another reason, we need to maintain our direct communication, four eyes communication is better than communication with our LCD monitor. so be wise friend....:)

No is the answer to this question. The thing is the Internet is supposed to supplement your real social life and not replace it. I enjoy interacting with people on here however, it will never replace going out and seeing friends or having a visit from your family members.

It's a human nature that us do have to interact with the things around us. Technology has a great impact regarding human activities. And yes as my opinion the internet or the world wibe web along its services like online games and others can be a substitute for social life. Base on findings, millions of people spend their hours in the internet. As myself, I also experience it. Also, during work. So, it is a big YES for me. Hope this response help.

nope i can exchange my social life with the net.though when i look at the hours i spent in the net, i had more time surfing than going out with friends. i use the net because i have works to do and after that i go out with friends or talk with my family members.having communication with them in person is really a must.

I've become, over the tears, extremely choosy who I let into my life. I don´t like to socialize per se, it just tires me, particularly when there is no particular objective other than just sozialising. It means you interact with other human beings to find those you fight the less with. That's at least the way I see it, and I'm very demanding. The price I pay is obviously loneliness, but I can live with that. The way I see it, I´m sozialising right now when posting on myLot. There are obviously very many people I disagree with here,and they disagree with me, but so what? Among the hundreds that show up here, I'm bound to find those who share my views, or at least respect them. It's just great, you're not tight down to your neighborhood, sport club or workplace in order to find the people you like. Phantastic,there are millions now! Can I get drunk with you, for example? Obviously not, but I wouldn´t do that if you were here right now, either. Can I learn from you, maybe help you, drive your imagination up a notch? Of course. It's called intelligent socializing, and that professor just doesn't know LOL.

I disagree that internet should replace/substitute real person to person interaction although virtual friendship and communication is really a good tool to bridge people together. Sometimes, being too absorbed in the internet keeps u away from reality. I would say that there must be balance. A time for net, and a time to interact with real people.

I think this is partly true, I have observed this personally. My niece who as been living with me for years and I consider like my own daughter has suddenly stopped interacting with the rest of household members (including myself). I found out that online games social networking sites have kept her so busy and "away" from the rest of us. She's always in front of her laptop except when she takes her meals, and when she's at work. Most of the time she's physically present but mentally/virtually absent. I'm waiting for the time when she'll notice that she has been "lost" for quite a while, and find that we have been going on with our lives without her. One time she asked, "where is everybody?" and I answered her back "where have you been?". She didn't say anything but I'm sure she understood what I meant. I hope she realizes that the internet is not a substitute for personal interaction, much less a family interaction.

The internet is not a substitute for social interaction. There are just things that you can only get from a face-to-face and foremost is the ability to touch your friend. Studies have shown that babies who are not touched have stunted growth. I think this goes for adults too. The internet is just a tool to help a friendship.

No, the internet cannot be a subsitute for a real social life. It can help us find friends but we still need to meet these people in person to get to know them better, interact with the. You can't do this just by chatting and sending texts and emails.