Connections Lost: The Damages of Textual Conversation and Multi-Communication

Connections Lost
The Damages of Textual Conversation and
Multi-Communication
Photo by Kaboompics.com
Tatum Shiff

In recent years, the
use of textual and
multi- communication
has risen immensely.

With the help of email, social media, and texting on smart
phones, people are becoming more and more likely to turn to
textual communication first, before face-to-face or phone
conversations.
49% of teens cite texting
as the most common way
to reach their friends.(5)
Only 13% cite
phone calls.(5)

And when we do have face-to-face
conversations, we are often on our phones
at the same time: multi-communication.
89% of cell phone users have
used their phone during their
most recent social event.(8)

FILM 260< Messages Details
The average teen sends
and receives 67 texts a
day. (4)
In the 16 hours we are
awake per day, we check
our phones 150 times. (6)

Communication is what builds and sustains relationships.
Better
Communication
Better
Relationship
Photo by Victor Hanacek, provided by Picjumbo.com

How Do We Communicate?
58% Body Language
35% Vocal Tone,
Emphasis, & Pitch
Only 7% Content of
Message (9)

Though useful in some situations, text-based and
multi-communication cuts out the most integral
parts of communication, leaving a lack of
understanding between parties that would
otherwise be there.

“The presence of
another human being
offers the opportunity
for intimacy, which
builds trusting
relationships and
enhances well-being.”(7)

“In face-to-face meetings, our
brains process the continual
cascade of nonverbal cues
that we use as a basis for
building trust and
professional intimacy.”(2)

“So potent is the nonverbal link
between individuals that, when we are
in genuine rapport with someone, we
subconsciously match our body
positions, movements, and even our
breathing rhythms with theirs. ”(2)

So, when we use textual
communication on its own,
we are left with only 7% of
our “full expressive
potential.”(9)

In textual communication,
we have no way to
differentiate between
sincerity and sarcasm.
And with the ability to edit thoughts and
ideas before sharing, we cannot know if
the person with whom we’re speaking is
exactly who they say they are

“People seeking connections online often
receive no response. This social silence leaves
them unable to understand what kinds of
impressions they’re making.” (6)
“As we ramp up the volume and velocity of
online connections, we start to expect
faster answers… we ask one another
simpler questions; we dumb down our
communications, even on the most
important matters.” (10)
How Does This Affect Us?

“In the silence of connection,
people are comforted by
getting in touch with a lot of
people, carefully kept at bay.
We can’t get enough of one
another if we can use
technology to keep on another
at distances we can control.”(10)
Multi-communication

Multi-communication goes hand-
in-hand with textual communication
as we “try to manage multiple
conversations, in person and online...
simultaneously.”(6)
“We do this,
and we do it badly.”(6)

Multi-communication prevents us
from truly connecting to either party
because we are not fully focusing on
either one.

“We live in a time of
multicommunicating, where no
one person gets our personal
attention for long.
It’s the institutionalization of
rudeness.”(1)

Not only can multi-communication
come across as impolite to others, it
makes conversation more stressful
for us as well.

“The greater number of things
we have pulling at our
attention, the less we are able
to meaningfully engage, and
the more discontented we
become.”(3)

“In an effort to keep with
everything happening
everywhere, we become
‘always on,’ always in ‘high
alert.’ We develop an artificial
sense of constant crisis.”(6)

When we substitute face-to-face,
personal connections with textual
conversation and multi-communication,
we lose the aspects of communication
that are so important to building lasting
relationships, and we as individuals
suffer as a result.

It is vitally important that we learn to
mono-communicate and put face-to-face
conversations first.
How Can We Fix This?

If we train ourselves to make time for genuine, unedited
conversations, we will gain a better understanding of one
another, build trust, and create healthier relationships for a
happier life.

Sources
1. Eichler, Leah. "Sorry to Be Rude, but My Smartphone Needs My Attention." The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail, 4 Oct. 2013. Web.
27 May 2016.
2. Kinsey Goman, Carol. "Face to Face." Troy Media (2008): n. pag. Troy Media. Troy Media, 16 June 2008. Web. 27 May 2016.
3. Konikova, Maria. "How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 27 May 2016.
4. Lenhart, Amanda. “Teens, Social Media & Technology.” Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. Pew Research Centre. 06
Apr. 2015. Web. 27 May 2016.
5. --. “Teens, Technology and Friendships.” Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. Pew Research Centre. 06 Aug. 2015. Web.
27 May 2016
6. Matrix, Sidneyeve. “Module 02: Online Friendship.” Module 02: iFriends. Kingston. 10 May 2016. Web.
7. Minerd, Jeff. "The decline of conversation: with everybody wired, we are starved for face-to-face conversation." The Futurist Feb.
1999: 18+. Academic OneFile. Web. 27 May 2016.
8. Rainie, Lee, and Kathryn Zickuhr. “Americans’ Views on Mobile Etiquette.” Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. Pew
Research Centre. 26 Aug. 2015. Web. 31 May 2016.
9. Schneidman, Kim. "The Trouble with Texting: A Few Reasons Why Texting Is No Substitute for Face-to-face Conversation."Psychology
Today (2013): n. pag. 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 May 2016.
10. Turkle, Sherry. "The flight from conversation." New York Times 22 Apr. 2012: 1(L). Academic OneFile. Web. 27 May 2016.

Connections Lost: The Damages of Textual Conversation and Multi-Communication

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Connections Lost: The Damages of Textual Conversation and Multi-Communication

Similar to Connections Lost: The Damages of Textual Conversation and Multi-Communication (15)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Connections Lost: The Damages of Textual Conversation and Multi-Communication