Being the glue that firmly fastens humankind, interpersonal communication ought to be preserved and constantly congruent. Not a single day goes by without having utilized one or all of its components; that being – verbal, listening, written and non-verbal communication.

To further promote the occurrence & maintenance of this, social media came about. Unluckily, its pure intentions have been diluted in the process, leading to an unbalanced scale of its pros and cons, with the latter being heftier. It is for that very reason that I seek to highlight how this technological channel of communication has affected our human interaction in the various spheres of our lives and render possible pointers that will put the implications into a position of equilibrium. 

Social Communication

This is the most common kind of interpersonal communication as it occurs amongst friends, family and lovers. In an effort to combat the dreariness that comes with being separated from each other due to distance, apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter came about to bridge the gap. One no longer needs to be in close proximity with their loved one in order to communicate, through a touch of a button you can reach out to someone either by text, voice or video call. In addition to this, you find friendship and dating apps that connect people who possess similar interests and hobbies. However, on the flip side of these incredibly interconnected platforms, lies an intense liability; which is human division. I know it sounds a bit paradoxical but it is very much evident that ever since these apps got introduced, that distinct human touch has been eliminated and replaced by these emojis that we exchange with each other and do not suffice as a comprehensive human relations method. 

Solution: time is an extremely valuable coin, so investing it to those who matter to you by meeting up with them physically will ascertain that the various relationships we are a part of are being sustained. During those conversations we have over the text messages, let us include conversations about seeing each other every now & then. 

Economical Communication

Our finances are one of the most sensitive aspects of our lives to a point where we hardly speak about them or we just sugarcoat its elements whenever the topic is brought up. Whether we are aware of it or not,  we are influenced by entrepreneurs and business leaders of high calibre on how we utilize our coins. That one tweet that suggests that an ongoing sale is worth spending our money on prods us to exercise our credit cards and before you know it you have exceeded your initial budget plan. The downside is that there are a lot of vultures and sharks on the internet so one ought to be vigilant of such as they can have a negative impact on your financial status.

Solution: Far too many people have been scammed of their hard-earned cash online simply because they believe that whatever is displayed online is legitimate, not knowing that is where chancers highly leverage their game. A backup check is pivotal before purchasing anything on the internet. In addition to that, keep your priorities in check – if an item wasn’t on your monthly plan, be disciplined enough to not give it much of your attention. Get a banker or financial advisor if need be!

These are the greatest communication influences that we are bombarded with on a daily, the speed at which they are transferred to us the people is so rapidly that it surpasses our decision-making & integrity. With that being said, one ought to be vigilant in this era of digital convergence.

Read this HOLR article that further outlines how Social Media has shaped our culture. 

 

Published by Oscar Ntuli HOLR Magazine.