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Briahna Haggard Dr. Jennifer Roudabush UNIV 200 04.29.2014 Connectedness through Social Media: How has the Development of YouTube affected Interpersonal Relationships? Before there was written history there was oral history, today written history is made each day through social media websites and some argue that text communication is deteriorating the ability to effectively converse in person. In one study however it was explained, when interpersonal needs cannot be fulfilled through face-to-face interaction, people use other channels of communication to gratify their needs (Pornsakulvanich, Haridakis, and Rubin 2294). Some of these channels that Pornsakulvanich, Haridakis, and Rubin speak of are Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It is a common assumption that these types of sites could be a distraction from real face-to-face communication, but many studies have proved otherwise. In a study focusing on how social networking affects cognitive skills it was determined that a strong sense of social connectedness can provide a foundation for goal-directed behavior, which can lead to the greater likelihood of achieving life goals (Alloway and Alloway 1749). Among the ways to communicate face-to-face over the internet, YouTube is perhaps one of the more successful ways because it grants the ability to reach millions of people and you are not limited to just speaking with your friends. Even those who are in the older generation can feel a sense of belonging and interact with those who are younger and perhaps more fluent in technology, allowing the user to stay current and connected. The capability to post videos on the internet has become such a common occurrence that it happens millions of times a day and the uploader can

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make the content either fully available to the world, or to a select group of people of their choosing. An analysis of major research conducted on the effects of social media on interpersonal relationships has shown both positive and negative outcomes, however it appears that connection through social media has been more of an encouraging resource when it comes to the subject of communication. The ability to form a deep and meaningful relationship with another person can be a difficult endeavor for many individuals, however through the current use of technology that undertaking has become less troublesome. [Computer-Mediated Communication] has been a valuable tool for many people for forming, maintaining, and developing relationships (Pornsakulvanich, Haridakis, and Rubin 2293). There are many theories of how social media affects the lives of users, some focusing on adolescents, some on the elderly, and many on society in general. In the last decade or so social media sites have become a driving force not only in American society, but across the globe. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are the largest and most popular sites; however, there are many others available for all ages and types of people. While some people would say that social media has been a negative influence on interpersonal relationships, because it takes away from face-to-face communication, most research shows that it has a positive effect on peoples everyday lives. In an article about the affect social media has on young people, author Katie Davis suggests that internet usage could affect younger individuals sense of identity by influencing the quality of their personal friendships, however Davis also explains that friends are a driving force behind internet usage, and therefore internet use is a significant contributor to an individuals sense of identity (Davis 2283). One media site in particular has the potential to be the greatest driving factor regarding production of strong interpersonal relationships.

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While many social networking sites are very similar, mostly allowing the user to share status updates or pictures to give their friends an idea of what is going on in their lives, YouTube is in a different ballpark. The user can still have followers and has the power to limit who those followers are, but many YouTube profiles, called Channels, are very public. The networked structure of interactions on YouTube and the tremendous variation in the success of videos posted online lends itself to an inquiry of the role of social influence said Susarla, Oh, and Tan in their article about the growing world of user-generated content (Susarla, Oh, and Tan 23). Many users on YouTube share their videos with the world, some even becoming celebrities from their creative content and consequently have contact with several people, many of which they probably do not know personally. Video makers may also have more than one YouTube account. Some celebrities reported having one account that encourages broad participation and social network linkages with fans and another account that targets circles of intimate friends (Lange 369). Lange explains that even though YouTube celebrities can communicate with whomever they wish, some of them still require their own private way of communicating with the special people in their lives. The videos that are shared on the website would be nothing if not for the loyal fan base that watches daily. In a way, this is how the creator interacts with millions of people simultaneously, and in return, the viewers are able to start a dialogue with others through the comments section and through direct messages. The comments area of YouTube has brought like-minded individuals together to discuss what they have viewed, as well as previous videos and other relevant content. Using a data set of video information and user information collected from YouTube, we find that social interactions play an important role not only in the success of user-generated content but also on the magnitude of that impact (Susarla, Oh, and Tan 24). The

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most original content on YouTube excels thanks to the digital word of mouth spread through other social media avenues and friends of friends of friends subscribing. The social aspect of YouTube is hidden until one decides to view more videos and subscribe to more channels. Only when one views a particular video does the social life of YouTube become apparent (Harley & Fitzpatrick). The ability to put yourself out there in the form of a video for anyone to see can lead to a richer and deeper social experience than simply putting black text on a white page. However, the ability to use simple text is still available in the form of comments found below a particular video. On the same page as the video: Viewers can share opinions about the content through online comments and ratings systems, and can share the content itself by e-mailing links to family and friends. It allows users to move seamlessly between traditional mass communication activity of watching mediated content, and interpersonal or social connection activity of sharing it with others. (Haridakis & Hanson 318) Video communication is a kind of digital face-to-face that can even unearth the real person behind a shy exterior due to only having to speak to a camera initially, and yet have masses of people view it through the internet. While some may think that face-to-face communication has diminished in recent years, it seems as though YouTube and other social media sites have been a catalyst for creating new friendships, in new ways. Overall, participants who perceived their face-to-face communication to be rewarding, used [Computer-Mediated Communication] for self-fulfillment, and disclosed their personal feelings to others, tended to feel close to their online partners (Pornsakulvanich, Haridakis, and Rubin 2293). YouTube is one website that allows for a type of face-to-face communication, through the use of video. While it may not be a live stream, viewers are able to

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see a human being in front of them and appreciate the fact they can connect with someone on a personal level over the internet, whether or not they are having a direct conversation with the video creator. Conversely, adolescents online activities are seen in a different light. They are said to reduce the quality of friendships with their peers around them because they end up spending too much time online when they could be engaging in face-to-face communication with friends at home (Davis 2283). With all things considered, children are more susceptible to learning from their surroundings, and during the developmental stages of their lives, it can be assumed that spending time with people in their day-to-day routine would be healthier than that of a child who spends all day online. A study on adolescent girls media use revealed that, higher levels of face-to-face communication were associated with greater social success; greater feelings of normalcy, more sleep, and fewer friends whom the children's parents believed were a bad influence (Pea et al 334). Age may have an effect on whether social media communication is good for a person or not, but overall it appears to be a good thing that helps people grow into more social beings. Though the internet has made it easier to communicate through means other than face-toface, it has not shown detrimental effects on adolescent children or their ability to cultivate meaningful friendships. In a different study, carried out by Katie Davis, the results showed that going online to communicate with friends actually played a more positive role in the shaping of an adolescents sense of identity (Davis 2281). The copious amounts of communication available to teens today enables them to always be in the know and stay up to date with what their friends, family, or favorite celebrities are doing at any given moment. Being an instant message away from confidants helps strengthen and widen social circles, allowing for a richer and more diversified closeness. In one study, R. Pea et al examined the relationships between social well-

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being and young girls' media use, in various contexts including, but not limited to, video, emailing, posting on social media sites, texting, instant messaging, talking on phones, video chatting, and face-to-face communication (Pea et al 327). The viewing of other people on video can help with self-confidence in adolescents and help them with communication with their friends in everyday scenarios. Social interaction through the use of the internet has effectively shrunk the finite world we live in, because now someone from a different country is a simple mouse click away. The older generation has had a very different response to the growth in technology. Some have embraced the changes of the current generation, learning to adapt to the new ways of the world, but others have dismissed new technology in its entirety. Considering the fact that technology has become so prevalent in todays society, those of the older generation who try to integrate themselves into various social media platforms are more in tune with what is happening around the globe. A YouTube user, Geriatric1927, happens to be an 87-year-old man who posts video blogs to talk about his daily life while connecting with younger viewers and enjoys telling his story to the World Wide Web. As our society moves past the baby boomer generation, we will see the next set of senior citizens much more involved in the use of technology due to its bigger implementation every year. The growing number of people using social media now will lead to an older generation that is always connected, removing the preconceived notion that the elderly are inept at all things electronic. Harley and Fitzpatrick explain that some communication technologies, such as YouTube, are not necessarily designed with the older generation in mind, yet some people, like YouTube user Geriatric1927, rise to the challenge and use these technologies to the best of their ability (Harley & Fitzpatrick). The current older generation is not accustomed to the constant cycle of new technology in the world,

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but through family, such as grandkids, they can learn the positive side of telecommunications. In a study by Kevin Wright, it was found that adults in the older generation who spent more of their time communicating on the internet were more satisfied with their online support network (qtd. in Pornsakulvanich, Haridakis, and Rubin 2297). Technology can be a scary thing to face in the wake of the latter years of ones life, but it can be beneficial in relation to staying updated with loved ones who are too busy or too far away to drop by for a visit in person. A perfect example of this comes from a study by Patricia Lange who interviewed an aunt who was able to stay connected with her two nephews through YouTube. The aunt was able to post comments on the boys videos and she was therefore able to re-affirm her position in their familial social network, since she lived several states away and rarely got a chance to see the boys (Lange 367). It may seem unreasonable to say that a website that specializes in video uploads from anyone has an influence on our everyday lives, but the reality is that it has a bigger impact than previously thought. YouTube is a very social oriented corner of the internet that often times extends beyond the comments section and bleeds into the conventional day to day. There are channels on YouTube that specialize in bringing news to the masses in an entertaining and unique way, giving knowledge to those who neglect to read the newspaper or go to specific news-oriented web pages. Online videos also spark conversation between friends and family. With the way social networking has grown, it can be seen as a support system for many people within their families, jobs, and even their education: There are many benefits to this support systemfor example, in business, individuals can gain an advantage in their career, achieving better job performance, as well as mobility through their corporate ladder (Podolny and Baron, 1997 and Seibert et al., 2001). Students also appear to benefit, as social

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networking behavior is also linked to higher academic achievement (Hwang, Kessler, & Francesco, 2004). Conversely, those who feel cut off from others often become isolated and may miss out on many life benefits within education and employment (Wei & Lo, 2006). (qtd. in Alloway & Alloway 1749) Students and career-oriented individuals are sometimes all work and no play, and like their favorite television shows YouTube also allows for scheduled entertainment. Many popular members of YouTube upload on the same day each week, giving their subscribers new content to look forward to throughout the mundane sunrise-to-sunset that plagues the workweek. [YouTube] provides a new form of appointment televisionone that is built around the calendars of individual users and not rigid network program schedules (Haridakis & Hanson 317). This technique of posting weekly can really influence the lives of people as different YouTubers sync videos on alternate days. Other influences of life can be seen in the way communication is practiced through different age groups such as younger children who prefer the behind the scenes way of connecting versus face-to-face exchanges. Sherry Turkle stated the popular view that the internet serves as a space for unprecedented identity exploration, but Davis suggests in her current study that, adolescents are considerably more motivated to go online in order to communicate with their existing friends than to explore different aspects of their identities (qtd. in Davis 2290). Through the internet and social media sites like YouTube, it can be seen that these influences that trickle into our lives are a positive step forward for the way we connect with each other around the world. Through the years, many have seen the rise in text based communication and social media websites and differing opinions have arisen in response to the swift change in talking to one another. Some researchers believe that social networking is actually harming society and

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causing people to lose the ability to hold face-to-face conversations with each other. Paul Haridakis and Gary Hanson state that, some researchers have suggested that greater Internet use results in smaller social circles, less communication in homes, and loneliness (Haridakis & Hanson 320). The negative effects that are most commonly noted are more prevalent in adolescents, primarily because they are more susceptible to learn from their surroundings. Young children are so enthralled with technology that they practically ignore everything going on around them and would rather talk to friends online than to the people sitting right in front of them. Pea et al explained that some children are more eager to communicate through technology, even when other people are around, no matter the social setting, which in turn reduces face-to-face communication (Pea et al 334). The amount of smartphone owners has risen steadily since their inception some years ago with more kids getting phones at younger ages. Whenever you see a kid on the street they are hardly ever using the phone to make calls, the majority of connection is made through texting and commenting on status updates. If people are unwilling to even call each other, then face-to-face communication would be the last thing they want to do. In contrast, Pea et al states, people who frequently interact with people face to face seem to feel less need to use other media while doing so (Pea et al 334). While there are those out there who view the shift towards social media as an adverse way to communicate, research has shown that the effect of this change slants to the positive side of the spectrum. Technology does not show any sign of slowing down in any area of our lives, especially in the realm of communication. We have learned a good deal of information in regards to how we prefer to talk to one another, with the most trendy way being that of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. While the former two specialize in text, the latter prefers to

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open up to the world through the use of video programs that can be submitted by anyone. This capability shows strong support for the fact that our ability to have face-to-face conversations is not a dying art form and that YouTube is actually positively influencing that way of socializing. From young children to geriatrics, social networking sites such as YouTube can be beneficial to all walks of life and can increase interpersonal relationships with people across the globe. These recorded clips have a reputation of spilling into our everyday lives through sharing them with friends to seeing them on the news. As a society, we are affected by the consistently rapid increase in technological capability and it is showing us that the increase in communication is not resorting us to a text only civilization but a culture of technologically savvy people who are given more tools, thus helping to develop our social skills in terms of face-to-face situations.

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Works Cited Davis, Katie. "Young peoples digital lives: The impact of interpersonal relationships and digital media use on adolescents sense of identity." Computers in Human Behavior 29.6 (2013): 2281-2293.Science Direct. Web. 21 Mar 2014. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563213001738>. Haridakis, Paul, and Gary Hanson. "Social Interaction and Co-Viewing With YouTube: Blending Mass Communication Reception and Social Connection."Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 53.2 (2009): 317-335. Taylor & Francis Online. Web. 21 Mar 2014. <http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/doi/full/10.1080/0883815090290827 0> Harley, Dave, and Geraldine Fitzpatrick. "YouTube and intergenerational communication: the case of Geriatric1927." (2008): n.pag. Springer-Verlag. Web. 21 Mar 2014. <http://link.springer.com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/article/10.1007/s10209-008-0127y/fulltext.html>. Lange, Patricia. "Publicly Private and Privately Public: Social Networking on YouTube." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13.1 (2007): 361-380.Wiley Online Library. Web. 21 Mar 2014. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.10836101.2007.00400.x/full>. Packiam Alloway, Tracy, and Ross Geoffrey Alloway. "The Impact of Engagement with Social Networking Sites on Cognitive Skills." Computers in Human Behavior 28.5 (2012): 1748-1754. Science Direct. Web. 21 Mar 2014.

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<http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/science/article/pii/S074756321200 1197> Pea, R., Nass, C., Meheula, L., Rance, M., Kumar, A., Bamford, H., . . . Zhou, M. (2012). Media use, face-to-face communication, media multitasking, and social well-being among 8- to 12-year-old girls. Developmental Psychology, 48(2), 327-336. <http://psycnet.apa.org.proxy.library.vcu.edu/journals/dev/48/2/327.html> Pornsakulvanich, Vikanda, Paul Haridakis, and Alan M. Rubin. "The Influence of Dispositions and Internet Motivation on Online Communication Satisfaction and Relationship Closeness." Computers in Human Behavior 24.5 (2008): 2292-2310. Science Direct. Web. 21 Mar 2014. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563207001653>. Susarla, Anjana, Jeong-Ha Oh, and Yong Tan, (2012) Social Networks and the Diffusion of User-Generated Content: Evidence from YouTube. Information Systems Research 23(1):23-41. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/isre.1100.0339>