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Nana Ansah
Introduction to Sociology
Professor Tucker
18 April 2017
Conversation in Contemporary Society

Introduction

As time advances, society finds new and creative ways to stimulate human life. Society has

produced technology like smartphones and computers to make it possible for people to create

content, share information, and communicate around the world. Unfortunately, issues arise in

relation to the massive shift towards online interactions over the timeless value of in-person

conversation. In her book, Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, Sherry

Turkle studies conversation tendencies amongst various age groups within multiple social

environments to determine why there is a bias against conversations. Turkle concludes that no

generation is immune to the draws of technology, as people of all ages are attracted to the

efficiency it provides. In addition, she makes claims that, people prefer technology because it

provides a landscape to synthesize information at their own pace and prevents the possibility of

being vulnerable, socially and emotionally. The unceasing opportunity to avoid interpersonal

relations creates an environment where face to face conversation is uncomfortable, and it will

worsen until society figures out a way to recover conversation as a social necessity.

Information Overload

An effective conversation consists of concentrated people exchanging old and new information

on a subject to come to a consensus or at least a general understanding of a differing perspective.

In this digital age, people prefer to communicate online, distorting the principles of an effective

conversation. In order for Turkle to understand the preference of internet connections, she had to

determine what the stigma was against mutual focus conversation. A teenage subject in Turkle's
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study expressed that, from his perspective, the problem with conversation is, "It takes place in

real time, and you can't control what you're going to say"(Turkle 22). From this observation, one

can understand that the unpredictability of conversation is a concern for some, but it should not

be. Conversations are meant to be spontaneous and open-ended, allowing people to collaborate

and reexamine their beliefs in accordance with a plethora of opinions. Unrestricted conversation

creates unrestricted minds. At the moment, successful in-person interactions should create a level

of social discomfort; however, online, if people are too intent on over articulating themselves,

they produce something like a prepared speech where there is little room for interjection. As a

result of the online interaction, when people face an in-person conversation, they struggle to

accommodate new information. Technology creates a wall where people can converse at their

leisure when it is suitable for their limited exposure to opinions other than their own. The

unforeseeable direction a conversation will take opens people up to the vulnerability of

presenting information with an opening for the arrangement of opinionated conclusions.

Avoiding Vulnerability

Turkle notes on how there are many opportunities when using technology to steer clear of

presenting vulnerabilities. Technology has helped people, like Turkle's colleague, Sharon, steer

from vulnerabilities by never requiring that a person engages in self-reflection. Social medias

like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, allow one to portray their best self, distancing their ability

to engage with human complexities such as understanding that nobody has a perfect life.

"Research tells us that being comfortable with our vulnerabilities is central to our happiness, our

creativity, and even our productivity"(Turkle 24). Conversation forces a person to be in tuned

with their beliefs and express them in a setting that will not always go their way. In opposition,

technological connection assures instant gratification. Through the internet, there is a sense of
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consistency where people know that others will hear their voices, even in their bubble, never

alone, surrounded by people who think and act in similar variations to the way they think and

act. This provides escape from self-reflection because there is never an opportunity for one to

question their belief, making it more difficult for people to converse effectively with conflicting

ideals.1

Turkle argues that more people use technology to reduce human interaction because it is less

stressful, avoiding a situation where a conversation would take an emotional toll. In a face to

face conversation, most people can understand and empathize with how their actions affect the

lives of others or they can effectively uncover emotion that, previously, was swept aside by an

insincere I am sorry' text. In an age where social media is the new norm, people fail to

comprehend the importance of human interaction. Human interaction is important not only

because it formulates a person's capability for empathy, but also because confrontation builds

temperament, patience, and forms a stronger relationship that enforces the trust. As long as

people use technology as a default for problem-solving, it is likely that people will stray further

and further from accepting their vulnerabilities.2

Conclusion

Turkles analyses do a very good job of examining conversation in an increasingly digital age.

She suggests society employs resistance against allowing online interactions to erase a culture of

conversation as a necessary social tool. Overall, the only aspect of technology taken for granted

is its means to increase efficiency. While this is favorable in work environments, it should not

1 Sherry Turkle, Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age (New York: Penguin Press: 2015)
24-26

2 Sherry Turkle, Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age (New York: Penguin
Press: 2015) 34-35
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take precedent over the conversation in everyday personal life. The powerful influence of

technology in an increasingly more technologically driven society, inhibits an individual's ability

to appreciate the context of information and evaluate quickly and mentally and calluses an

individuals vulnerable characteristics, affecting them socially and emotionally