Commentary | April 19, 2010

Readers discuss the Internet's impact on social life

Does the Internet augment or prevent meaningful human interaction? Tell us what you think.

From The May-June 2010 Issue

In the May-June 2010 issue, Undergraduate columnist Spencer Lenfield ’12 assesses Internet forums, asking why their popularity among Harvard students dies out as suddenly as it initially snowballs. "It's thrilling to find that there's someone out there who thinks the same thoughts as you," he concludes, "but, in the end, it's not very helpful." Read the column, and then tell us:

What has been your experience with online social interaction? Does the Internet augment and enable your social life, or is it simply a tool for procrastination and the avoidance of real, meaningful human contact?

See what other readers are saying, and then join the conversation by leaving your own comment. (This discussion is moderated, so your comment may not appear immediately.)

Published in the May-June 2010 print issue under the headline “Your Take: The Internet and Social Life,” in the section.

Related topics

You might also like

A man in a dark suit sits at a table in an elegant room with historical decor.

Making Waves with Philosophy

A conversation with Harvard professor Michael Sandel

A jubilant graduate shouts into a megaphone, surrounded by a cheering crowd.

For Campus Speech, Civility is a Cultural Practice

A former Harvard College dean reviews Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber’s book Terms of Respect.

Skyline view of Harvard University with trees in autumn colors and a river under a cloudy sky.

Your Views on Conservatism on Campus, Doxxing, and More

Readers write in about international students at Harvard, the September-October cover, and changes at the Chan School of Public Health.

Most popular

Students writing at desks on wheels, racing ahead of a stationary student at a fixed desk

Why Men Are Falling Behind in Education, Employment, and Health

Can new approaches to education address a growing gender gap?

Four men in a small boat struggle with rough water, one lying down and others watching.

The 1884 Cannibalism-at-Sea Case That Still Has Harvard Talking

The Queen v. Dudley and Stephens changed the course of legal history. Here’s why it’s been fodder for countless classroom debates.

Two students stand in front of a presentation as they deliver a talk

Teaching Through War With AI

Harvard Graduate School of Education students examine the use of AI in wartime Ukraine.

Explore More From Current Issue

A stylized illustration of red coral branching from a gray base, resembling a fantastical entity.

This TikTok Artist Combines Monsters and Mental Heath

Ava Jinying Salzman’s artwork helps people process difficult feelings.

Anne Neal Petri in a navy suit leans on a wooden chair against an exterior wall of Mount Vernon..

Alumni Profiles

Mount Vernon, Historic Preservation, and American Politics

Anne Neal Petri promotes George Washington and historic literacy.

Cover of "Harvard's Best" featuring a woman in a red and black gown holding a sword.

Harvard History

A Forgotten Harvard Anthem

Published the year the Titanic sank, “Harvard’s Best” is a quizzical ode to the University.