GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 79
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.
In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make?
Has this become a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: [It’s a positive development]
Technological advancements have revolutionized how millions of people interact with each other and it has gone to a whole new level. With it, how we make relationships has also been affected. The essay will expound on how individuals can now build relationships across the world, and then opine that this is an incredibly positive development.
Unprecedented in human history, modern technology has made it extremely convenient for people to communicate and get in touch with family, relatives, friends or old classmates. Besides, people can communicate instantaneously with someone they have never been acquainted with before and in geography, they have never been to with the help of digital applications like WhatsApp or Viber. They can even find someone over a freelancing platform to have their job done. This is quite different from the conventional relationships we develop by meeting in person; it is, nevertheless, hard to downplay these relationships. Moreover, social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, provide people with a platform that allows them to live chat and comment on someone else’s matter instantly. Strangely enough, some of them even find their dates online and make friends in a distant country without ever meeting them.
Overall, the phenomenon is a real boon to mankind. The revolution in communication that modern technology brings forth has eroded the traditional notions of national sovereignty. It has blurred the line between national and international boundaries and wielded enormous influence on the values of the national identity so as to transform global citizens; whose ideas, values, ethics, and orientations are no longer moulded by the local culture and environment. Rather the global ideals and values are incessantly aired on the web and social media to make a better world. Most importantly, the communication revolution paved the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, towards which the globe is rapidly heading.
In conclusion, leading-edge technology has altered our mode of interaction forever, transcending national and cultural barriers so that individuals can frankly chat, talk and can readily keep in touch, and it is a windfall achievement that will transform a new world where things, like culture, sect, and so on, that split people will not exist.
Model Answer 2: [It’s a negative development]
Technology has revolutionised the way people interact with each other in recent times. However, this has led to a decline in the quality of relationships people make. The impact of technology on relationships is a double-edged sword, and while some may argue that it has been a positive development, I believe that it has had negative effects.
One of the ways that technology has affected relationships is that people are becoming more isolated and less likely to engage in face-to-face interactions. The rise of social media platforms and instant messaging services have made it easier for people to communicate remotely, but it has also led to a decrease in the frequency and quality of in-person interactions. People are now more likely to spend their time on social media rather than meeting up with friends or family members. Moreover, technology has made it easier for people to be dishonest and insincere in their interactions. For instance, people can now hide behind the anonymity of the internet and present a false version of themselves. This has led to a decline in trust and authenticity in relationships.
Another way that technology has affected relationships is that people are now more reliant on their devices than on their relationships. People can now find entertainment and fulfil their social needs through technology, making it less necessary to build and maintain meaningful relationships.
In conclusion, while technology has undoubtedly had many positive effects on society, its impact on relationships has been mostly negative. It has led to a decrease in in-person interactions, a decline in genuineness and trust, and an increased reliance on devices over relationships. It is crucial that people recognize these negative effects and take steps to mitigate them by prioritising in-person interactions and being more sincere and honest in their relationships.