Evolution of Communication

Filter Results

Topics

Audience

Industry

Year

Evolution of Communication

20 Aug 2021
- admin
The evolution of human communication has come a long way, from smoke signals to pigeon messengers to the telephone and now social media applications. Has this evolution improved the intimacy of communication, or has it scrapped the concept of attachment altogether? There seems to be a public debate over the fact that social media and the internet have changed the attachment style of relationships, and I tend to agree.

The digital methods of communication through social media and business platforms have superseded all the other forms, and there is no denying that these methods have improved our time management and efficiency. But, in retrospect, I can’t remember the last time I wrote a letter or sent a money order or applied to colleges / universities via post. This is a situational crisis the current generation is facing, including me, a millennial. The internet made communication easy regardless of time and location, but at what cost? The anticipation of waiting to hear back from your loved one, the patience that the previous generation asserted is lacking in our current times and this lack of consideration is going to cost us more than the time we’re saving and economizing.

The expression of communication has also seen a swift shift, the meme language speaks more with the younger generation than an actual conversation. This benefited the business and economic sector of the world as the use of memes, videos, and pop-culture references has affected consumer behavior. This might be the reason the entrepreneurial ventures have been more in the internet era as some amazing ventures have cropped up and changed the face of the business industry to widen our horizons.

The exposure to cross-cultural aspects has bought us together, the spread of news and shedding light on important topics improved our way of life and our understanding of the insensitivity we have been displaying all along through our ignorance.

This is an era of change and by change, I mean not just the technological, economical aspects but also at a human level.

Although there are many benefits of this ever-growing improvement in communication, we should always remember the flip side of it. The exchange of data on relevant topics through these platforms can empower some but there have been some studies that proved the younger generation, the generation that is born in the internet era are constantly subjected to self-comparisons and are eventually facing mental health issues during adolescence. Social media is a sugar-coated medium with a dark side.

The voice of opinion is valued or ridiculed on these platforms and such extremities can often make people sensitive to pretty much anything. The data we’re sharing is occupying a lot of space in our mind but how we filter the necessary from the unnecessary is where the question lies. This generation is our make or break for the coming future and subjecting them to such extensive emotions at a very young age is not advisable. We should always remember communication has its impact on everyone but how we perceive that information is completely on us.

As there is no going back to the simpler times, we might as well try to embrace the idea of digital communication and utilize its perks but it’s also important to remember that human connection needs to be preserved and nurtured with more than just a text message or an emoji. Our generation is going through a transition and it’s likely that this transition is not finished.

We will always be grateful for the advancement of science, but it’s also important to never forget our roots and to always value ourselves above any advancement that is bestowed upon us.

Ooha Rayapaneni
PGPM, Class of 2022