Some people believe that modern technology encourages more sociable behaviour. Others say that this leads to lesser sociable behaviour. Discuss both views with examples and provide your opinion.

While some

people

argue that our high-tech

technology

and online social platforms have allowed us to be more connected to the rest of the world, others argue that our smart devices have actually left us feeling more disconnected and alone than ever before. In my opinion, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, with the onus being on users/

people

to utilize these modern resources in a healthy and productive manner.  On the one side of the argument, there are those who are of the opinion that our innovative

technology

is a tool that can be used to bring us closer despite the vast distances that separate us. The most compelling reason for believing

this

is that in the past it would have been nearly impossible/ highly difficult to strike up friendships with

people

from different countries and cultures.

However

, in contemporary society,

this

feat can be accomplished with the mere click of a button.

This

trend has directly led to communities that are more tolerant of

people

from different backgrounds and has helped many

people

find common ground with those from extremely different backgrounds.  Despite the above-mentioned advantages, there are those who are adamant that

technology

has only created the illusion of being socially connected and most

people

are in fact deprived of genuine social interactions. Indeed, one of the main reasons that I hold

this

position is that it is clear that devices like smartphones and iPads intrude more and more on our close relationships, and more often than not family members and friends are less attentive to each other despite being in close physical proximity.

This

is almost always because they are deeply engrossed in whatever they are viewing on their phones.

In other words

, we have become a

technology

-reliant and smartphone-obsessed society that has less and less face-to-face communication than in any other era of human history.  In conclusion, while both views are held in society, I believe that our inability to form and maintain true/close relationships should be blamed less on modern

technology

and more on how we as

people

choose to make use of these resources. Given

this

situation, it is suggested that communities should be more educated about the consequences of being overly dependent on smart devices and online platforms.