Rauch 1

Alex Rauch

Mr. Barclay

English 111

Digital (Non)Communication

Communication is what makes the human race great; the ability to talk and share ideas is

what allows humans to be so advanced beyond any other living species. It allows us to learn

from one another, and to gather the ideas and thoughts of others that each individual can expand

upon in their own lives. Since the dawn of time the world has worked towards more integrated

communication through technology so that we can convey ideas quicker and further, and to

preserve them for the generations to come. The incredible advancement of technology in this

modern era has provided yet another medium for communication. It used to be that everyone

was a phone call away, but with advanced technology it has become even more simplistic;

now, everyone is a text, Facebook message, or a Tweet away. These new text-based tools allow

for constant communication anytime, from anywhere, and with almost anyone. And when 37%

of teenage Americans have a smartphone, a number steadily rising, they do not even have to be

at a computer to access their social networks (Simpson). With such constant availability, the pull

of social networking and text communication has started to hinder our society as a whole; the

undeniable prevalence of social media and instant messaging diminishes our interpersonal

abilities, and presents too much of a distraction from real learning and communication to be

healthy in the long run.

In the beginning, humans were forced to speak face to face because there were no

methods of indirect communication. As time progressed, however, there was a need to

communicate through written word. Whether it was due to distance or lack of time, the speaker
 Rauch 2

could not always be there to talk in person. After some experimentation with various forms of

stationary, the world finally settled on a viable medium of indirect communication that could be

sent around the world with relative ease paper. And with this newfound paper, written

communication took off, because it was practical. The Chinese gave us our first taste of printing,

but Johannes Gutenbergs movable type printing press changed world communication because it

allowed for the efficient mass production of written material (Major Events). From there, new

sources erupted both for verbal and for written communication: books, magazines, newspapers,

telegrams, telephones, radios, televisions, and computers. The most recent inventions, the

Internet and cellphone, the only limit to communication is a lack of cell service or Internet

connection neither of which is hard to come by in a developed nation. As each new innovation

has been created though, the previous methods have been wildly discontinued, or at least used in

a much smaller capacity. Just as it became uncommon for someone to send a personal letter

when house phones were introduced, it has become much less common to even call someone

when they are simply a cellphone text or social network message away. As we move into these

next generations, where digital natives (those that have grown up surrounded by technology)

become the entire population of the world, it is very important to remember this pattern in

history. Though the Internet, social networking, and cellphones have incredibly practical uses, it

is essential to see what these methods of communication lack.

Social media gives its users a false sense of friendship; the quality of a friend on social

media is actually quite poor in most cases. While it may seem true at a quick glance, to say that

social media allows us to have more friends is flawed. Even though Facebook tells me that I have

215 friends, I know that number is ridiculously high. Though I would acknowledge nearly all of

them if I saw them in person, I would be hard pressed to state something meaningful going on in
 Rauch 3

all of their lives. And that is where the beast unveils its ugly face in the word meaningful.

Can we really call it a friendship if there is no meaningful relationship? I certainly think not. Bill

Gore, founder of GORE-TEX thought this matter through years ago. In his company, he found

that 150 was the magic number (NPR). Gore noticed that the productivity at GORE-TEX

decreased as the company grew in size because coworkers did not know each other. To combat

this, he opened new factories each with 150 people. With these smaller factories, coworkers

knew each other on a more personal level, and the business became more productive. Using

Gores idea, Robin Dunbar, a professor at the University of Oxford, has done extensive research

following the notion of 150 meaningful friends. Research so extensive, in fact, that it has been

labeled Dunbars number. Through his research, Dunbar has found that the human brain

physically cannot maintain more than 150 meaningful relationships at any given time (NPR).

Since this is the case, how are hundreds of Facebook friends beneficial? Humans find friends

because they instinctively desire companionship; that desire to have good relationships, having

people to share good times and be happy with, is not supposed to be a popularity contest of who

can have the most social network friends.

This pursuit of happiness is something that every American chases, and according to a

University of Michigan study, Facebook is not helping anyone find it. In the words of health pro

Jerry Kennard, the study showed, that the more people use Facebook during one time period,

the worse they subsequently feel. At first thought this data may seem backward. Assuming all

people have some degree of empathy, wouldnt connecting with friends on social networks, and

seeing what is going on in their lives make networkers happy to see the successes of their

friends? Following that train of thought, most peoples lives must not be every good if exploring

Facebook makes people sad. While that reasoning might seem logical, it is far from reality. In
 Rauch 4

fact, studies suggest that people are less happy after viewing Facebook because all of their

friends only post about the good things going on in their lives! This newsfeed of good times

makes the networker sad because they do not always have something good going on in their life

making everyone elses life look better. Myself, I only post a few times per year; with such low

frequency, I do not waste my time posting about my bad days. In reality, most people would be

hard-pressed to find friends that post about the innate negatives that come with everyday life.

Out of my 215 Facebook friends, I can think of only one person that posts when she is sad and

even then, it is not a frequent occurrence. According to the rest of my friends, life is nothing but

good times. When Americans spend so much time on Facebook, surrounded by false friends and

posts that do not fairly reflect the ups and downs of life, it is easy to see how the indirect

communication through social network newsfeeds could damage society.

Alongside the indirect messages sent through social network posts, direct messaging

through text-based mediums are also incredibly common these days. U.S. smartphone users ages

18 to 24 send and receive an average of 3,853 text messages per month. (Cocotas). Given this

average, even if each message takes only 30 seconds to type/read, it adds up to over an hour of

texting every day! The main problem with text-based messaging (both SMS texts and social

network IM) is that it is completely nonverbal. Everyone has been in a situation where a text was

misinterpreted, or they are asked, Was that sarcasm? I couldnt tell. Albert Mehrabian, a

phycology professor at UCLA, has done considerable research on nonverbal and verbal

communication, publishing his finding in his book Silent Messages. In fact, he found that the

actual words of a conversation only account for 7% of communication - tone of voice and body

language accounting for the other 93% (44). With text-based messages, tone of voice and body

language are simply not a factor; but that does not change how important they are to daily
 Rauch 5

communication. For this reason, it is very important to be face-to-face during any meaningful

conversation in order to help avoid misunderstanding. I can see some allowance for a text

fight, if an in-person interaction is not viable for an extended duration of time, but when it gets

to the point that most serious conversations are over text, instead of in person, there is a problem

that must be addressed.

I am sure everyone that texts has avoided direct confrontation by sending an unpleasant

instant message instead because it is easier. Text messages are much less personal than any form

of verbal communication, which can cause users to say things over messages that would not have

said in person. One look at overwhelmingly harsh YouTube comments, or a string of IM

messages between two quarrelling friends will show this fact. This misconduct over text does not

bode well for interpersonal (relationships and communication between people) communication

over the Internet, but, more importantly, our interpersonal skills are not being developed in-

person because of all the text-talk.

Teachers and professors that have taught for an extended period of time are possibly best

able see the disparity between each generations communicational skills. One communications

teacher at Fordham University, Janet Sternberg, noticed that more students [than before] don't

look her in the eye and have trouble with the basics of direct conversation (Irvine). While this

lack of communication might not seem as bad, or be as noticeable, when talking to friends and

family, interpersonal skills in the professional world are irreplaceable. Ms. Sternberg also notices

how students have a tendency to use technology instead of talking to her directly. From her

description, she wonders if students even know what office hours are! She says she often sits

there alone during office hours, answering emails instead of talking with students because

students only ever email. Email is quicker, easier, and takes less time than a hike over to the
 Rauch 6

office. Those hikes, however, provide a great opportunity to practice talking to professionals

something that is needed when it comes time to interview for jobs, and work with bosses and

coworkers.

Another unfortunate side effect of technology is the distraction. As I sit down to do

homework, the urge to check my Facebook newsfeed or send a text message is a constant

struggle. And talking to classmates, I am definitely not the only person that experiences these

disruptive urges. Anything to distract me from my work is instantly welcomed into my world

with even the smallest of nudges. Even as I wrote that last sentence I heard my email ping and

did not take me more than 5 seconds to switch over and check my exciting new message. This

love of multitasking is an unhealthy practice. The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our

Brains, written by Nicholas Carr, gives an in-depth look at how the Internet limits the brain. Carr

notes, Many studies have shown that switching between just two tasks can add substantially to

our cognitive load, impeding our thinking and increasing the likelihood that we will overlook or

misinterpret important information (133). This means multitasking actually suppresses the

brains ability to think, and ultimately causes it to lose some of its ability to learn and retain

information. If, then, people are constantly on their phones (which they are), they are in the state

of distractedness for prolonged periods of time during the day and quite possibly not actually

learning from what they are doing. Whether it is in class, at work, or with friends and family, the

distraction is the same.

Admittedly, social networks, the Internet, and cellphones are incredibly useful tools.

Cheryl Cran, a leadership expert and consultant, notes a commonly held opinion: that text

messaging is incredibly quick. They provide for quick answers, and immediate conversation

when it is needed. And along with the speed, text messages can also cover a lot of distance;
 Rauch 7

allowing texting individuals to talk with anyone, even if they are thousands of miles away. While

I completely agree that this instant communication has irreplaceable uses, there is a point where

someone must draw a line. Walking through my colleges cafeteria, I see countless people eating

at the same table, but each totally engrossed in their web browsing apps and text messages. What

is the point of eating with a friend when half the conversation is with someone on the other end

of the phone? Conversation cannot go any deeper than surface level when only half the attention

is being given to anyone in particular. When it gets to the point where the instant gratification

becomes so irresistibly desirable that the phone cannot be silenced for even a few minutes, the

phone is only facilitating another failed opportunity to talk face to face and have a personal

relationship with others. Even though text messaging is a fantastic supplement to basic

communication, it cannot be a replacement.

Along those same lines, the Internet and social media can be used to find almost any bit

of information at any time, and from anywhere. I cannot imagine having to write a research

paper when the only resources available were the books found in a library. To me, a digital

native, it sounds incredibly inefficient to flip through books for information when I can Google

the same bits of information in a few seconds. But, like with texting, this type of research must

only be supplemental to ensure the same level of actual learning. Students these days too often

look at multiple sources at once, constantly clicking hyperlinks as they try to cram as much

information from as many different sources into their brains as they can at once. Proven by

dozens of studies, when we go online, we enter an environment that promotes cursory reading,

hurried and distracted thinking, and superficial learning (Carr 116). When I have finished

reading a page of my book, and realize I did not comprehend anything on that page because I
 Rauch 8

was thinking of the last message I received, or fun fact Facebook graciously provided me, should

that not be a red flag that these distractions hinder my learning ability?

If things continue the way they are, I am scared for what the next generations will have to

offer. Both personal relationships and substantial knowledge are essential to having success in

life. Personal networks, made up of solid relationships, allow careers to advance, and the friends

needed to get through the tough times in life. Impossibly large amounts of friends and an

imbalanced representation of everyday life can lead to unhappiness. Also, at the same time, the

unyielding flow of messages and information distract us from real learning, and from forming

skills vital to basic communication. Even though this new technology provides incredibly

applicable services, we must move forward with caution by not using these new toys exclusively.

When we replace our older methods of learning and communicating with these inferior

alternatives it will limit the success we can have in the future. Without concrete relationships and

knowledge safely secured in our heads we will always be limited by cell service and Internet

connection.
 Rauch 9

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas G. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. New York:

W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.

Cocotas, Alex. "CHART OF THE DAY: Kids Send A Mind Boggling Number Of Texts

Every Month." Business Insider. N.p., 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Cran, Cheryl. "3 Reasons Why Texting and Instant Messaging Are Great Communication

Tools | Cheryl Cran Leadership Expert." Cheryl Cran Leadership Expert. N.p., 28

Jan. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Kennard, Jerry. Facebook Usage Effects on Happiness and Other Perspectives. Health

Central, 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

"Major Events in the History of Mass Communications." Indiana Department of

Education, Sept. 2008. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Mehrabian, Albert. Silent Messages. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub 1971. Print.

NPR Staff. "Don't Believe Facebook; You Only Have 150 Friends." NPR. N.p., 5 June

2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Richtel, Matt. "Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction." The New York Times, 21

Nov. 2010. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

Simpson, Ian. "Smartphone Use among U.S. Teens Is up Sharply: Survey." Reuters.

Thomson Reuters, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.