The more technology that we invent, the harder it is for us to communicate, even when the creations are linking us together more than ever before.
Because of technology, we assume people understand us “loud and clear.” Sometimes we expect our Tweet, Facebook post, or email captures exactly what we are trying to relate as it is scattered with CAPS and extra !!!!!, a few underlines, and maybe even the standout bold. But what we are losing is the irreplaceable value of being face to face.
Research states that individuals and groups gather information 58% of the time by body language (non-verbals), 35% by the tone of voice (how you say it), and only 7% by the actual content (what you say). With the way we use technology, people are being left to obtain and use information through the 7 percentile, the area we use least to understand the heart of the message.
What hurts us more is that communication has moved to being centered around emails and social media, and it is within those traps that we distract ourselves even more. 80% of people use 2 devices simultaneously while focusing on another task, 77% waste time on Facebook or surfing the web for upwards of 3 hours a day while on the job, and 43% of Millennials say texting is just as meaningful as face-to-face conversation.
Technology has made communication faster and more accessible, but also less reliable and distracting.
As much as our society wants to, we can’t get rid of face to face conversation–it’s too important. But it’s easily excused as too daunting as well.
Face to face conversations today are diminished by the lack of eye contact and meaning. With phones pulling eyes down and attention drifting to what’s on the screen, what’s being said is barely heard and the conversation has no value. Furthermore, we have begun to expect that other people understand us without us having to communicate with them.
We expect that they know we’re angry, sad, or needy without ever telling them. We assume they should know it because a text or email didn’t include exclamation marks and the sentences were short. We just expect them to get it. But the truth is, we never efficiently communicate it because we’re either too scared, too lazy, or too impatient to seek out someone face-to-face.
Here’s what you get when you use technology rather than face-to-face communication:
- Confusion of Emotion: was that an angry email or disappointed email, is he mad or is he busy?
- Confusion of Task: what does she really want me to do–this is unclear? How am I supposed to do that if I’ve never been taught?
- Loss of Time: it takes 5 emails or 10 texts, over a span of an hour, to talk through an issue that could be solved with 5 minutes of talking
- Ignorance: what? I never got that email saying that (when you really did)…as well as purposely not replying because you don’t like them
- Pitiful Revenge: comebacks are easy, tempers are hot, and skin is tough when you can say it all over Social Media
Here’s what you get when you use face-to-face communication rather than technology:
Going Deeper: What do you see as the pros and cons of using technology and face to face communication? Have you abused the technological spectrum?
