By Communication Consultant Lili Tang (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

Raised in an age of the Internet, we surely have benefited from this great invention in various ways. Thanks to the Internet, we are able to connect with people around the globe anywhere at any time using platforms like FaceTime, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Because of the convenience of the Internet, communication seems not to be a serious concern anymore. Rather, it gradually becomes a daily routine for everyone.

Interestingly enough, as I grow up, I tend to find myself spending more time on my own, checking my devices constantly, clicking “likes” on someone’s posts or viewing someone’s stories through a cold screen. The screen is like an isolated island, separating myself from the lively world and drawing a boundary between myself and family, friends, and surrounding people.

How has the Internet become such an isolation for us nowadays? Just like Paul Carvel says, the Internet offers absolute communication and absolute isolation. It can ease our lives, but also can harm our lives. It is not easy to argue whether the Internet is black or white, and it might never be. As the development of the Internet and technology advances, will we continue to struggle finding the right balance down the road?

There is no doubt that we take advantage of the internet as a great communication tool. However, ultimately, we cannot shut people out and let our hard cold screens isolate us from actual life. How you communicate with online tools will affect your academic and career success, and here at the Rauch Center for Business Communication we are able to help you develop strategies for making the most of your screen time without isolating yourself from the relationships that will be the bedrock of your success.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.