Disadvantages Of Internet – Lack Of Face-To-Face Communication

The disadvantages of Internet are numerous. Lack of face-to-face communication, is a major drawback of Internet, the most viable communications tool. The result of this ‘faceless’ contact is the ability to escape identity. Web savvy people are increasingly communicating through emails, online chats, and instant messaging. This is very unlike the face-to-face interactions, commonplace in the pre-internet days.

It may not be possible to conclude whether excessive Internet communication is psychologically healthy or unhealthy. However, the advocates of its disadvantages do assert that communication through web has taken away the ability to resolve human conflicts. Resolving conflicts is part of the human makeup and avoiding this is usually psychologically detrimental.

Negative Effects Of Internet

There is no doubt that there are many uses of Internet but like two sides of a coin, there are disadvantages of Internet as well. To list a couple:

• Lack of conflict resolution. The worst thing (or is it the best thing!) about Internet communication is that if things start to heat up, it is all too easy to sign off and not deal with the issue at hand. Postponing issues are not going to help solve them.
• Internet addiction. Still a very controversial subject, people do try to lose themselves in the virtual world of Internet in trying to escape their problems. Certain psychologists believe Internet addiction to be a true psychological disorder with symptoms comparable to any addiction, withdrawal, and loss of relationships or job. People putting in innumerable hours uselessly surfing the net or chatting, is psychologically unhealthy.



Mainly connected with the lack of face-to-face contacts, there are disadvantages of Internet on the business front, too:

• Ascertaining transaction legitimacy. One major disadvantage of conducting online transactions is the inability of both, the businesses and the consumers, to evaluate the legitimacy of a transaction. Small businesses, especially, are the target of customers using stolen credit cards and information. To counter this, these businesses are forced to take expensive security measures.
• Isolation between customers and salespeople. Internet transactions completely lack the face-to-face contacts between the seller and the buyer, at any time during and after the transaction. Any old-time marketing hawk would confirm that this contact was the bread and butter of all transactions leading to repeat sales.

The advantages of Internet far exceed its disadvantages, but there is no doubt that disadvantages of Internet do exist and we need to overcome them.