Communication Breakdown

How has technology changed the way people communicate? How do people use technology to communicate? Is it effective? Is it ethical? All this and more in the breakdown of communication.

Today, people can communicate to anybody, anywhere in the world in an instant. The advancement of technology has led to the invention of the internet, and from there services like AIM, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I could go on but you get the picture. There is also the mobile telephone, specifically the smart phone, which allows calls and texts as well as the ability to use almost any instant messenger available as an app. All these ways have used technology to change the way people interact with each other on a daily basis.

These services have allowed for the peak of communication in the younger generations, with their snapchat, and slack, and skype. These mean that people can do business, send funny photos and videos, or have deep and meaningful conversations, without needing to be in the same physical space (although that doesn’t stop people from texting the person they are sitting next to in a uni lecture).

However, the increase in communication in these ways has lead to a decrease in face to face communication and also leads to many misunderstandings and miscommunications. With no facial expressions to understand meaning, and body language to express emotion, messaging and other forms of digital communication means meaning is easily lost or misunderstood.

This issue also leads to the issue of ethically communicating. How do people, particually young people, communicate in a way which is treating people fairly, and isn’t stealing peoples digital property. Teenagers and young people have experienced first hand the rise of cyber bullying and trolling online, coming from an anonymity and seemingly lack of consequences that online messaging can have. People who use these technologies to do business or for their studies have also learnt the need for ethically sourcing photos an other resources and programs as to avoid stealing peoples properties.

Luckily, for the future generations, these issues will largely be addressed through education, and the mistakes of current generations, leading to people knowing how to ethically and effectively communicate with friends, colleagues and the entire world without having a breakdown in communication.