Has Communication Technology Made People Less Effective Communicators - Literature review Example

Has Communication Technology made people less effective communicators? Name Professor Institution Course Date Has Communication Technology made people less effective communicators? Introduction Communication has been described as a major factor in life which separates humans from animals (Tubbs & Moss 2009). The capability of human to communicate at a complex level has made them to improve civilization and design advanced technologies. Communication has been regarded as the foundation for conveying ideas and establishing relationships. Such an instinctual need for interaction has, certainly, spurred individuals all through the ages to develop better means to speed up the communication process. Eunson (2012) argues that the advancement in communication technology in the 21st century is evidence to that development. Whilst electronic gadgets like cell phones and computers has been developed to make human more effective communicators, it has deteriorated the quality of communication too. The new communication technology has created poor content of language, language confusion and hindered interpersonal communication (DeVito 2005). For such reasons, this essay agrees and will argue that communication technology has made people less effective communicators. Communication Technology has made people less effective communicators Increased in the communication technology has resulted to increase in quantity of communication, but reduced the quality (Tardanico 2012). Technology is ever changing the mode of communication. Mohan et al. (2008) contend that even though communication technology has made the life of people much more easier, when comes to communicating with other people, it has led to potential problems making communication to become less formal and effective. In the last decade, the only modes of communication were the letters, telephone and face to face (Mohan et al. 2008). The shift to digital technology, such as the development of internet has brought a big influence on the form of communication. Emphasizing on the interpersonal communication skills, Eunson (2012) defines this element as the processes which assist, block or distort communication of the messages between people. However, it must be noted the interpersonal communication has the aspect of effective and basic skills like active listening, interpretation and usage of the facial expressions, gestures and other non-verbal cues. Most modern communication technologies have removed this aspect of interpersonal communication, and people no longer need to meet to communicate (DeVito 2005). Since people do not need to meet to communicate, non-verbal cues are being forgotten, more so the body language, gestures and facial; what still remains even with communication technology is the tone. With human beings, only actual means of connection is via real communication. Researches indicate that just 7 percent of communication is on the basis of the verbal or written communication. The same researches by Forbes concluded that massive 93 percent is founded on the nonverbal cues (Tardanico 2012). Certainly, it is only when a person hears a voice’s tone or have an eye contact with a person that they are capable of knowing “I’m fine” does not always mean they are fine. In this new era, social media has become of importance not only to individuals, but also to business who want to market their brands (Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence 2013). Social has made people to interact, create relationships and even to read the news of what is happening in other parts of the world. In the awake of the technologies is the new generation, in particular the generation X who have a poor culture of reading. Generation X has made communication skills not useful anymore. In a bid to educate the next generation, thinking, literacy, and creativity are all being affected by advancements in technology communication (Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence 2013). Language is cannibalized and shortened. It has even become acceptable to use shortcuts in writing, aspects that have even spilled in flat organizations. Tardanico (2012) postulates that English language and literature, both suffer as proven by dropping rates of reading skills and compromising of the grammar rules. This drop has the possibility to reduce performance on all forms of problems, as well as crucial job-qualifying assignments and exams. Another shortcoming emanating from the communication technology is that several individuals feel isolated as opposed to connected even as technology enables people to communicate with others across the globe (Bargh & McKenna 2004, p.576). Technology has changed a lot through of things and occurrence of meetings of social nature has reduced. Bargh & McKenna (2004, p.581) assert that a growing number of populations in the social media and other online technologies are more concerned about the online life as opposed to their real life. The current and the coming generation are lacking basic interpersonal skills like the capability to articulate thoughts and ideas face-to-face (DeVito 2005). The rising rate of communication through chatting and messaging on recognized sites is a key reason for this trend. In a situation of nonverbal communication and face to face communication such as body language and facial expressions reinforces the individuals’ message. Face-to-face communication enables individual to observe their nonverbal communication like a frown or smile, and this can be regarded as another communication layer (Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence 2013). Communication technology has made people less effective communicators. DeVito (2005) claims that presently people who have poor communication skills hide behind technology, e-mailing, texting, and write eloquent Facebook post or tweet portraying an image they desire and create illusion of what they are not. Expert claims that with technology one can be whoever they desire to be. Even without nonverbal cues, they still have audiences who not wise enough, they people create an image of what they are not. Some of these people are less effective communicators, and need to improve their communication skills, yet with technology make them look perfect. For instance, a candidate may be good in writing job application letters or good emails, but face to face interview may reveal less effectiveness in communication (Eunson 2012). In place of work, the application of the electronic communication has surpassed voice-to-voice and face-to-face communication by an extensive margin. This change has been prompted by two main forces; lack of ease with the conventional interpersonal communication skills amongst the rising segment of the employee population and the speed or geographic distribution of business. Millennials and Gen Y research confirm that these forms of generations which is projected to consist of 50 percent of the labor force by 2020 would fancy to apply instant messaging, emailing or social media rather than stop by the office to communicate with somebody (Tardanico 2012). The new communication technology inclination is one “generational gaps” facing institutions as the Boomers attempt to manage to the new arrays of norms and expectations in their young staff and vice versa. With the two trends at work, leaders have to consider the influences on their business relations and the capability to efficiently collaborate, create trust, and build employee loyalty and commitment (Mohan et al 2008). Further, owing to the fact that the majority of business communications is currently conducted via e-mails, intranets, texts, websites, instant messaging, blogs and other technology-based media; some body language may have potential for the misinterpretation. In the past, advertising has mostly been done on televisions, and billboards with the aim to persuade people to buy products or services. Eunson (2012) states that today advanced technology have improved the face of advertising, marketing it one of the competitive averages of a firm. Companies have therefore improved their technological systems and communication channel to increase their brand awareness. Customer behavior has changed a great deal making difficult for marketers to convince them. Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence (2013) posit that today companies are using sophisticated technologies to create adverts that focus on the social life. Most adverts of today do not put much emphasis on rules of grammar causing language confusion (Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence 2013). Most of the marketers focusing on “current” language believe that such aspect makes it easy to persuade their customers. However, they are forgetting that adverts are also meant to educate on various languages. Lastly, communication technology has led to increase distortion of different languages. It is in social media is where one is likely to find shortened and distorted which means something else (Bargh & McKenna 2004). These messages are carried and spread on a global platform and embraced by social networkers. Such situation has led to establishment of urban dictionary which is mostly used by teens and young adults. Old people in the society are struggling to communicate with children because of the increase in new words and language spread by technology (Tubbs & Moss 2009). Some of the new worlds and short forms than have found their way into the so called urban dictionary include TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday), ROFL (Rolling on the Floor) and LOL (Laughing loud, Lots of Laugh, Lots of love) among others. Conclusion In conclusion, it must be noted that slight hindering of social interaction caused by communication technology has made us incapable of communicating effectively. This is not to say that technology is wholly bad. In fact technology in its different modes of communication that present us with several opportunities to enhance the quality and level of human relations and interaction. In fact, technology and its modes of communication have set up, and raised the efficiency and speed at which message and ideas are sent. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of communication technology depends mostly on how it is used and how people choose to respond to it. Technology will just be regarded as advanced to this extend if its goodness and opportunities are harnessed and used appropriately. References Bargh, J & McKenna, K 2004, The Internet and Social Life, Annu. Rev. Psychol, Vol. 55, pp. 573–90. DeVito, J 2005, Messages: building interpersonal communication skills, 6th edn, Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA. Eunson, B 2012, Communicating in the 21st century, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons Aust Ltd, Milton, Qld. Kossen, C., Kiernan, E & Lawrence, J 2013, Communicating for success, Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest. Mohan, T., McGregor, H., Saunders, S & Archee, R 2008, Communicating as professionals, 2nd edn, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne. Tardanico, S 2012, Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication? Viewed 5 June 2014 http://www.forbes.com/sites/susantardanico/2012/04/30/is-social-media-sabotaging-real-communication/ Tubbs, S & Moss, S 2009, Human communication, 12th edn, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, New York. Read More