Communication in 2020

Communication is hard. And I feel it's becoming more difficult, despite all of our technology. 

There are methods of direct text communication such as text message (SMS), WhatsApp, LINE, Signal, Telegram, Facebook messenger. And then there are social media platforms, which offer a direct and indirect communication methods such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat. We obviously still have the ability to make a phone call, but often default to the digital option. Then there are the video chat options such as Facetime, Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Google Duo. 

Some of these become less popular over time and get phased out. Remember AOL and AIM instant messenger? Google has had a several they experimented with and retired such as Google Allo. In true Google fashion, Google Duo will now be phased out and replaced with Google Meet. 

We have all these methods and options, yet I feel we're actually communicating less effectively compared to the earlier days of email and even snail mail. The communication is also much more shallow. We switch from one topic to the next in the blink of an eye. There's so much information out there, it's hard to focus. We are bombarded with never ending streams of social media and news feeds.

There are a few problems. 

1. While options are good to have, too many options cause a lack of communication because people choose to use different methods. There have been attempts in the past to combine all methods into one, but I don't think they gained much traction. There's even an episode in the show,  The Office where Ryan attempted to make an App called, 'Woof' that does exactly this. WUPHF - The Office ("Woof") (Youtube)

2. Information coming in at the speed of light, so many connections to many others cause a sort of social media induced attention deficit disorder. We're connected to people around the world, which is good, but there are endless streams of information that we feel we need to pay attention to - because we either feel it's important or just plain entertaining. 

What's the solution? Well, awareness is step one. Two, you need to establish what's really important to you. Is it the constant bombardment of hourly life updates from all your Instagram buddies or personal messages from your family? From there you need to force yourself to focus on what's important while filtering out all the other junk. 

You ever get a text message or an email and forget to respond to it? This was much less likely in the days of snail mail. You'd get a letter which you probably put it on your desk or kitchen table. Having the physical piece of communication not only made it more difficult to forget, but it also likely felt more important. 

One problem I have is that I refuse to use Facebook while most of my family uses it. Because it has the same ownership, I also refuse to use Instagram and WhatsApp. That leaves me with Twitter. Sadly, barely anyone in my family uses Twitter. So, I resort to using text messages and Email if I want to communicate with them electronically. This is issue #1 discussed above. 

Issue #2 is a broader issue, but nonetheless effects communication. Technology-induced ADD is what I like to call it. There are so many TV shows to keep up with and binge, so many Twitter, Instagram, and news feeds to scroll through. So many notifications from your smartphone that you need to dismiss. Before you know it, it's bedtime. So much for all those hobbies you wanted to start or continue. So much for that book you've been meaning to read. So much for responding to a text or an email that you forgot about that got lost in the sea of digital distractions.