The importance of person-to-person communication in a world of screens
On a given day, a person will check their emails, messages, banking information, arrival time for a bus or shirt purchased online, quick facts… and that is just from their pocket. This ever-present force is so small and unassuming that though technology’s intentions may be good, it is possible that we as a society should stop and educate ourselves; ask the questions we need to, even if the answers are an inconvenience. The ability to have mass contact, accompanied by little to no in-person interaction, has, undoubtedly altered how we as humans experience life and connect with one another.
The question now is how the world, as a whole, is using technology and how far its grasp reaches, as we see a slow deterioration of the lines between the public and private sphere. At what point do we deem it too much? When anything can go viral, be shared, or passed along, the “selfie,” photos of meals, and many other documentations have, seemingly overnight, become unquestioned norms, presenting themselves as a newfound means of communicating. From large scale platforms such as social media, (i.e. Twitter and Instagram,) to something as small as researching a class assignment, technology is dominating all aspects of life, heavily endorsing the benefits but leaving the major underlying questions of its detrimental effects on human communication unanswered.
The opportunities and benefits provided by these technologies are endless, inarguable, and global, with such advancements having drastically improved business function and communication, medicine, scientific research, academia, travel, societal awareness, and mass-scale interaction and communication. With the ability to research and combat disease, the simplicity of completing a DE course, and the power to speak to anyone across the globe through a social medium such as Facebook, redditorSnapChat, it seems pointless to regularly contemplate the negative implications, with the benefits being so bountiful. However, nothing comes without a cost and for every benefit of these technologies, there is a sacrifice, and I believe that our sacrifice for such power is an intense dependency that has re-shaped and moulded our capability to communicate.
For example, when one sends a message, whether through social media or texting, etc., they are taking the risk of misinterpretation, as they are not verbally present to clarify any issues that could arise through misguided interpretations or poor wording. Autocorrect, being rushed, or split attention can all lead to mistakes. The rules are in constant shift and are ultimately changing – not only the way humanity interacts as a whole, but the more intimate person-to-person relations.
The unlimited nature of many technologies such as Netflix, texting, and other mediums listed above provide an easy trap where we allow ourselves to become docile, developing almost a “filler” mentality of passing time until the next big thing. This directly affects person-to-person interaction as we become so absorbed into the device ‘connecting’ us to the world that we are isolated and lose the humanity of those with whom we are communicating. This eliminates genuine expression or reaction to words, and there is an undeniable loss in communication through the reading of a text message and often no connection between intention and reception. No form of messaging will ever compete for the satisfaction of speaking with someone and getting to experience the nuance of their voice and inflection – a dialogue rather than the monologue that is the reality of messaging.
Upon the initial marketing of mobile phones, the main selling point and purpose was communication, as opposed to today, where speed and performance are the greater factors – with person-to-person communication falling to the bottom of the list. As technology has and will evolve, it is important to remember that as with most things, it is about balance; these benefits are of little use without the skills to manage them. Indulge in the benefits of a twenty-first century world, but do not lose sight of the important practices of precaution, responsible communication, and being mindful in educating and setting boundaries. Technology should be another means to expand our capacity for communication, not a means to limit it.