How technology and social media affect interpersonal communication skills

Interpersonal Communication and Its Decline

Interpersonal Communication

Decline of communication due to technology

Communication is a necessity for human survival. In recent decades, there is more advancement in thinking of why and how communication is crucial. This is mainly because people depend on others for providing love, support, and comfort. Other generations have continued growing through the development of communication skills with individuals by way of talking with each of them in person and through the phone. Modern generation exhibits poor communication skills due to overemphasis on communication mainly based on texting (DeVito, 2012). Although the current generation maintains person-to-person levels of communication, it is not the major communication mode among younger generations. The in-person conversation leaves exposure to questioning about what other persons are saying due to the body and facial expressions aiding their words. Further, texting does not allow people to follow through facial expressions (Solomon & Theiss, 2013). This makes the conversation fail in reaching same levels as the in-person approach. The approach means that future generations will have strained communication skills. The communication skills are regressing on a high note while older generations' skills lack willingness to develop through different ways of technological advancements.

Technology has more negatives in referring to the decline of communication skills. However, using it in a correct manner has its array of advantages. The goal includes making a dependable balance to it. It is encouraged to think boldly prior sending text messages and social media illustrations. The choice of using phone calls, video calls, or quick visits other than communicating serves better in providing humanistic elements (Monaghan, Goodman & Robinson, 2012). For the objective, responsibility is based on the Internet users and social networkers, advance the purposes of engaging in activities and accomplishing underlying goals. However, most side effects are not always apparent to individual users and may combine with other users to make large-scale implications.

2. Online social networks and their influence

Social media has fostered an era of more virtual relationships. Loved ones at any given time are no longer hard earned within playgrounds, at school, or on sports teams. Increasingly, the online friends are mostly those that people do not spend most of their time communicating. Scenarios including the ones mentioned do not have to make a decline in communication skills, as well as the relative importance attached to in-person interactions. People communicate differently. The approach to social media is affected the extent of candidness among the people (Solomon & Theiss, 2013). The large platforms, as well as comparatively low consequences, allow people to saying things that are not normally communicated to strangers. The candor type permeates daily communication. Inappropriateness, as well as the informality, is a concern for older generations within workplace settings.

Social networking offers an existing phenomenon consisting of web-based communication for Internet users based on websites coupled with interactions with others through cellular phones. The importance of alternative solutions in the study on social networking includes taming the activities of texting, as well as the application of social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The impacts on conflict resolution and communication skills are adversely mentioned and addressed. Most college students respond in the affirmative to the anonymous surveys that address the daily activities for social networking and general attitudes based on conflict resolution and communication (Wood, 2015). The overall findings from the research suggest that people perceive face-to-face communication as most preferred and effective means of interaction and resolving conflicts with other people. In fact, the outcomes of previous research indicate that people participate in daily social networking activities at higher rates as compared to the traditional communication channels. Further, the participants are reported using Facebook to communicate and resolve various conflicts in everyday life.

4. Differences in body language communication between men and women

Body language variations between woman and men arise in distinct primary ways. The differences can exist in terms of behaviors and the purpose driving the behavior. For example, women more propelled towards displaying nurtured behaviors show emotions and let their feelings develop along the lines. However, men are more likely to portray behaviors of dominance, assertiveness, and power. Modern world presents the general tendencies as subject of variability as compared to before. The outcomes include increased acceptance as well as comfort with all gender forms displaying the non-typical forms of body language in distinct situations (Monaghan, Goodman & Robinson, 2012). Even with the increment in levels of freedom while displaying non-typical aspects of body language, there is a difference between the portrayal of men and women.

The common aspects include differences in the receipt of messages because women are better at interpreting body language messages. This is especially noted while considering inconsistencies of verbal language and body language (Wood, 2015). The differences engaged in sending messages portray men with tendencies of having minimal skills in using the subtle body language for purposes of influencing communication without appearing to do so at all. The actual physical reasons involved in the differences are worse than the strategic focus used in processing patterns that influence the receipt and sharing of messages as per each gender.

Greater understanding and awareness of differences facilitates a great deal in the prevention of different body language interpretations. The occurrence of the different interpretations fosters the resolution of potential misunderstandings and conflicts (West & Turner, 2010). The goal of the approach includes promoting respect for differences without belittling or judging either gender with respect to body language issues. While men and women issue points of sharing alternative perspectives, they learn from the differences. They learn to make better interpretations and facilitate understanding of non-verbal communication among themselves.