Social Media

Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication in Modern Society?

By Erick Diang'a
Communication is an element of socialization among people. Not only do people communicate but also animals in waters and on land. Responses exhibited by plants through symbiotic relations suggest that they are in continuous communication with one another and with the surrounding.

Socialization dates back to thousands of years; it was majorly enhanced by communication whose onset is based on theories like the social learning theory in 3500 BC.

Before the introduction of mobile phones in Africa, people communicated authentically thereby promoting social interactions through understanding in-depth reality of ideas. People got psychologically satisfied by seeing the people they communicated with.

"As human beings, our only real method of connection is through authentic communication. Studies show that only 7% of communication is based on the written or verbal word. A whopping 93% is based on nonverbal body language. Indeed, it’s only when we can hear a tone of voice or look into someone’s eyes that we’re able to know when “I’m fine” doesn’t mean they’re fine at all…or when “I’m in” doesn’t mean they’re brought in at all." Says Susan Tardanico, leadership and Communication Executive Coach.

In the modern communication trend where the respondent is heard rather than seen, communicating parties have to create imaginations of; the mood worn by the other, how the partner feels, where he is, his physical reactions to the issue being discussed and other body languages that accompany verbal communications. "The world is a village" but it's ironical to see socialization parting away from the villagers.

Gone were the days when bridegrooms expressed seriousness while negotiating marital issues with the elders. A man had the courage to convince elders how he would be able to shoulder his family burden by ensuring that the bride would be guaranteed what it took to be a woman. Some men of this generation would pick a phone and tell the elders what they think please them (elders); obviously cash. Cash would be the best since he last saw a bull during agriculture lesson and the teacher mentioned tethering. Today’s men cannot hold a bull by its horns, at the same time, would not possibly make a knot on a rope to create a loop that can successfully go round the neck of a docile bull. Reason? We are unsocial.

When messengers were the reliable mode of communication over long distances, the then chiefs were sure that the half-naked runners would represent them (chiefs); no messenger was taken for granted. Chiefs were as well certain of substantial feedback in case no lion smelled the blood of the messenger.

Our fathers carried brown envelopes to prove their confidence before the human resource officers in an interview. The panel scrutinized their papers and their reasoning capabilities. Limited shortcuts in education notwithstanding then, those old folks proved their competence.

They built relationships faster with the interviewers allowing the latter to make instant valid judgements. Bearing in mind that most of the interviews went unrecorded, the face-to-face conversation created deeper link and understanding between the job seeker and the HRO.

Look at the digital regime; telephone interview! What would be the perception as an employer if the person you want to absorb into your company picks your call while not observing any conversation etiquette? The person could be drunk rendering his judgement void; she could be in a stressing situation forcing her to reveal the contrary. It would be hectic to determine whether the interviewee obeys the interview rules. Similarly, it would be hard to ascertain whether an employer is questioning the correct candidate.

Language performance in schools has deteriorated due to intermixing of native and foreign words. In addition, syntax used on cell phones as text messages mystify language utilization. You are likely to receive a text message from high school son chatting, xaxa masa, niko xoxo hapi abt pesa ulinixendia. (Hi mother, I am glad you sent me money). Continuous use of such words may negatively influence creativity in a student’s writing skills.

You recall how superb letter writing carried the day in the past. Letters brought the writer closer to the reader. There was an enormous space for expression of feelings, pens worked better than handset buttons even though the letter could take weeks in the post office prior to reaching the receiver. Overall, what mattered was how bonding the letter was. Unlike phone texts, letters could be kept for further reference.

New age media has emerged with new look of communication hence creating communication friendly atmosphere through the use of social media tools. Social media has reduced the rate at which people visit relatives in the upcountry. Let’s test out the use of Skype in the current communication trend; one would feel successful in the conversation however, inwardly, he would wish to meet the person one on one. Satisfaction in physical contact has never been achieved through the use of facebook, twitter, what’s up, to go, linkedin, twoo, ebuddy, instagram, flickr, picasa , My Space and the rest not mentioned. In the process of using the aforementioned tools, either a computer or a cell phone would be in the company of the users rather than the company of ‘unseen respondent.’

The use of cell phone for instance has been linked with exaggeration of Proximity and distortion of reality. It is currently ordinary to hear a suspected criminal caller lying of his alibi. Away from crime, any phone user, at one moment or another, has lied of his location. The act can completely be severed by physical conversation where the venue is shared.

Mutual trust lingers in the air because it is awkward to distinguish truth from flatter when a message is passed through wireless handsets. Callers have to create doubts before they call to investigate whereabouts of their beloved ones. For instance, it’s possible for an employee to intentionally abscond job to meet his errands after laying excuses to employer that he’s seeking medication in a hospital. Later to coincidentally meet in a local inn a few minutes after the conversation! On the other hand, if the deal succeeds, the possibility of emailing a doctor to forge a sick chit as proof would take less than a minute. Such are the embarrassing scenarios related to technology, cell phones and the new age media.

The digital conversation has gone away with nonverbal communication cues which are closely associated with determination of truth, courage, sincerity, trust and emphasis.

In as much as we enjoy the diverse benefits of modern digital communications tools, let’s give a second thought to the diminishing physical conversations which were the base of proper dialogue and union. Not to forget terrorism activities heightened by advancement in social media. Executions of disastrous attacks and other crimes have recently taken a different direction whereby a detonation can be initiated by the press of a touch-tone phone miles away from the scene.