Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what way has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development?

It is true that technological developments of this modern era have transformed our lifestyle considerably, and particularly the way we socialize. The advancements in communication networks with a view to connecting people to people not only more conveniently but also more effortlessly, plays an integral role in everyone's everyday communication. While I accept that technology can sometimes have a harmful effect on the society, I firmly believe that it is more likely to have positive impacts.

On the one hand, a great variety of relationships people have made has been affected dramatically since the advent of technology, such as: relations in social life, education, business, etc. First and foremost, the Internet and other means of communication networks allow businessmen in different countries, continents to interact without face-to-face meetings and even governmental institutions from other states can hold an online assembly to table the matters nationwide and worldwide. Secondly, a service like Skype creates more possibilities for either distance learning or teaching for students and teachers. For example, in 2020, the coronavirus broke out resulting in schools shut down, an online learning platform was sought-after. Therefore, students had the opportunities to gain knowledge without going to schools amid the pandemic. Finally, these days, many people use social networks, like Facebook or Twitter, to make new friends and find others who have common interests which are suitable for a hectic life where there has been a lack of direct meetings.

On the other hand, I would argue that the negative effects of this development are outweighed by the benefits. In the past, it took the mailman days to deliver messages from sender to receiver that message had to physically travel from its source to the destination. Nevertheless, these days, the same message could be delivered instantly to other people through digital applications like Whatsapp or Skype. Thereupon, humanity benefits from those interactions either in work or social contexts. Nonetheless, the availability of novel communication technology can have the consequences of isolating and deterring people from real connections. For instance, adolescents choose to make friends and keep each other in contact online rather than mixing with their peers in the real world, these virtual relationships are a poor substitute for friendships.

In short, in spite of the fact that technology has greatly reduced real-world interaction; it has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we communicate. Instead of being pessimistic about the demerits, people should take advantage of those merits in the technological revolution to do in the long run for humankind.