Is Cupid’s aim off? Students want this more than love
February 2, 2010 by Claire KnightPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Tech News
Even though Valentine’s Day is approaching, students have found something even more appealing than true love.
It seems they’re more interested in technology, according to a recent study with approximately 1,000 student participants. For more info on the study, click here.
That’s right — two out of three college students would choose technology over a relationship when taking a break from studying.
The study also found:
- Two in five students said the Internet and social media are the main things they couldn’t live without in college.
- Only 4% said the library is a campus necessity.
- On-campus interaction is four times as likely to be through technology as it was 30 years ago — in the olden days when students had face-to-face conversations.
Notable comments collected during the study:
- “A girlfriend would be more distracting during a study break than technology.”
- “My brain just needs a break, so I’d rather not have to talk to anyone and just get on my computer.”
Does this study accurately reflect students’ dependence on the Internet and social networking? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Tags: Internet, social media
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February 3rd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
This actually dipicts a positive interest in independent technological studies amoung our students today(visual learners).
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Context, please? Which students, studied at which school (s)? Ages, majors, gender …
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Another demonstration of the breakdown of social skills needed for a civilization to get things done.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:11 pm
I second Allison’s comments about details, but setting that aside for a moment.
“Only 4% said the library is a campus necessity” but “two in five students said the Internet and social media are the main things they couldn’t live without in college.”
This makes me think that they are defining the library as that big building on campus they sometimes go to to find study space when the dorms are too noisy, instead of the node on the Internet that gathers the rich information resources that they need to do well in their courses and provides it all without the barriers of credit card payments, dead links, and crappy connections, while surrounding those resources with useful tools that enable them to ask questions, get help, and cite things accurately.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:59 pm
true and sad..
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I am of the opinion that this makes sense. If I am merely ‘taking a break’ from studying – for a few minutes – why not just click over to facebook and see what people are up to? I could message my mom, comment on my boyfriend’s wall, post a note about what I want to do tomorrow, or whatever. The break will only be as long as I want it to be for, so I wouldn’t get distracted. If I really want to spend time with someone in a relationship, I would make an effort to schedule some meaningful time – not a “study break”. And as for civilization somehow needing face-to-face conversation to get things done? I am a professional and get far more done with the people willing to collaborate through email than I ever get from those who constantly insist on face-to-face meetings. Those are the projects that always go past deadline and drag on way to long. Maybe it’s a generational thing.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Without more information it is hard to judge credibility and too many researchers take a small study of one group and spread it across all groups. How did age, gender, race place into this? But if any of this is real, it shows why gossip websites and dysfuntional behavior is becoming the norm. It also shows why students can’t figure out what is fact and what is gossip just picked up and passed along. Yet these same students want to graduate into leadership positions and lead other people when they can’t carry on a face to face conversation with anyone. What we’re training is worker bee’s not leaders. If the students would rather blog than interact with real people–you have to wonder can they communicate at all? Kind of makes you understand why relationships flounder so quickly –nobody can talk to anyone. .
February 5th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Wow. Hard to believe that you are presenting this information without citation. What “recent study”? Methodology? Where can we read it for ourselves? Etc.
Editor’s response: Thanks for your comment. For more information, go to http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=11685388.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Nothing personal, truly, but I seriously hate it when someone says “it’s a generational thing”. There are ways to have efficient mtgs f2f, and ways to have a 5-minute reunion with your lover without it having to distract you from getting on with your work. People of all ages range the spectrum of what they prefer for work and play environments, and people of all ages run the gamut of their comfort with technology, too.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
I am never surprised when the “real world” seems to model “the silver screen” world, or maybe someone in Hollywood actually has the thumb on the pulse of America and has done a good job of modeling the real world in the media world. I teach Community College Communication courses and have an opportunity to explore this topic with 100+ students from multiple “generations” each year. The truth is, today there are many more ways to use communication to maintain a relationship than there have ever been. We talk about competent communication being the ability to maintain a relationship at the desired level. Now for me, that does not mean going 100% technology for the channel of communication. But, do movies like Surrogates and Avatar paint a true picture of our future; a world where relational satisfaction is met wholly by technology? I think the real statement this research makes is that how we define relational satisfaction is changing. The need for communication is still present (technology may have even enhanced the need), but it is sad to see that many are meeting their needs in a non-physical way. I believe the most intimate form of communication is touch. And yes, highly qualitative interpersonal relationships require work. I also believe that technology (although it may be effective in meeting our maintenance goals) is the lazy/slacker way.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I agree with Alison, what is the contextual nature of this study? Although, based on my own readings regarding this generation and personal anecdotal experiences, I may tend to agree with the contents of this article. However, anyone can throw out numbers! The dynamics of the study would give it more validity in the eyes of my academic colleagues.