Spring Break
New technology brings risk of miscommunication, electronic aggression
Jessica Leggin / Campus Editor
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News
With new technology emerging fast, students are able to meet new people as they stay in contact with the old and gain knowledge at a faster pace.
While recent technology has its benefits, some issues still need to be dealt with.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recognized a new health risk for students called "electronic aggression."
Electronic aggression, also known as internet bullying, is described by the CDC as "any type of harassment or bullying such as teasing, telling lies, making fun of someone, making rude or mean comments, spreading rumors, or making threatening or aggressive comments."
These actions could take place in a chat room, e-mail, instant message, social web sites and/or text messaging.
Melanie Mills, graduate program coordinator for communication studies, said bullying is nothing new, but the online environment is.
"There are some differences in this environment that can make it particularly nasty," she said. "In this online environment, it is fairly easy to assume someone else's identity and behave badly."
Mills said bullying is more about the bully than the actual victim.
"What I mean is that bullies behave the way they do in order to elevate themselves at someone else's expense, which is immature and often reflects esteem issues," she said.
Mills said some bad behaviors do not merit a response.
"You can choose to ignore behavior that doesn't deserve any attention, but this is hard to do if you feel wronged," she said. "I think it is important to ask yourself, 'Do I need to dignify this with a response?' And if the answer is yes, then I would recommend doing (the response) face-to-face with Katie McCarthy, a licensed clinical social worker for the Counseling Center, said as technology provides more means of communication, it makes sense that childish playground behaviors would also be seen occuring in electronic form.
"There is often a poorly supervised 'playground,' so some of the worst forms of cruelty may surface when students feel that they can escape any consequences," she said.
Jordan Rozycki, a freshman exercise science major, said people who use technology for aggressive purposes may not see immediate consequences when doing so.
"It doesn't seem as confrontational when doing it," he said. "They think it will just help them get their point across clearer."
McCarthy said even though technology has made it easier for students to communicate with each other on a regular basis, a face-to-face encounter is still crucial to have.
"If a person does not practice this sufficiently, they might instead avoid any direct conflict and not be able to express their own needs or advocate for their own wants during a person-to-person encounter," she said. "This could impair relationships with family, friends or significant others."
Ariana Falk, a sophomore elementary education major, said she sends text messages all the time, but knows texting is not the best form of communication all the time.
"That person doesn't get to hear what I texted," she said. "I'll stay up to 4 a.m. in the morning talking to them instead of meeting with them. It can deprive one of that one-to-one relationship."
McCarthy said there is a greater risk of miscommunication when overusing technology to connect with others.
"People might become more distraught when they are waiting for responses, or more likely to 'read between the lines' to see a meaning that is not intended," she said. "Generally, the clearest communication can occur when discussed in person so that there can be the greatest clarity of intent possible."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.witnesses."
While recent technology has its benefits, some issues still need to be dealt with.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recognized a new health risk for students called "electronic aggression."
Electronic aggression, also known as internet bullying, is described by the CDC as "any type of harassment or bullying such as teasing, telling lies, making fun of someone, making rude or mean comments, spreading rumors, or making threatening or aggressive comments."
These actions could take place in a chat room, e-mail, instant message, social web sites and/or text messaging.
Melanie Mills, graduate program coordinator for communication studies, said bullying is nothing new, but the online environment is.
"There are some differences in this environment that can make it particularly nasty," she said. "In this online environment, it is fairly easy to assume someone else's identity and behave badly."
Mills said bullying is more about the bully than the actual victim.
"What I mean is that bullies behave the way they do in order to elevate themselves at someone else's expense, which is immature and often reflects esteem issues," she said.
Mills said some bad behaviors do not merit a response.
"You can choose to ignore behavior that doesn't deserve any attention, but this is hard to do if you feel wronged," she said. "I think it is important to ask yourself, 'Do I need to dignify this with a response?' And if the answer is yes, then I would recommend doing (the response) face-to-face with Katie McCarthy, a licensed clinical social worker for the Counseling Center, said as technology provides more means of communication, it makes sense that childish playground behaviors would also be seen occuring in electronic form.
"There is often a poorly supervised 'playground,' so some of the worst forms of cruelty may surface when students feel that they can escape any consequences," she said.
Jordan Rozycki, a freshman exercise science major, said people who use technology for aggressive purposes may not see immediate consequences when doing so.
"It doesn't seem as confrontational when doing it," he said. "They think it will just help them get their point across clearer."
McCarthy said even though technology has made it easier for students to communicate with each other on a regular basis, a face-to-face encounter is still crucial to have.
"If a person does not practice this sufficiently, they might instead avoid any direct conflict and not be able to express their own needs or advocate for their own wants during a person-to-person encounter," she said. "This could impair relationships with family, friends or significant others."
Ariana Falk, a sophomore elementary education major, said she sends text messages all the time, but knows texting is not the best form of communication all the time.
"That person doesn't get to hear what I texted," she said. "I'll stay up to 4 a.m. in the morning talking to them instead of meeting with them. It can deprive one of that one-to-one relationship."
McCarthy said there is a greater risk of miscommunication when overusing technology to connect with others.
"People might become more distraught when they are waiting for responses, or more likely to 'read between the lines' to see a meaning that is not intended," she said. "Generally, the clearest communication can occur when discussed in person so that there can be the greatest clarity of intent possible."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.witnesses."
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