7-1 Discussion Effects of Social Media on Communication Skills PDF

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Do you think social media and online communication have positively and/or negatively impacted social skills and communication in our society domestically and globally? Why or why not? I have long felt our dependence on social media and digital communication have negatively impacted our social skills domestically. As a military spouse, I have found it harder to connect with people in my community because the reliance on social media as a form of connection is so great. Cultivating a community in person requires a certain amount of effort and time spent away from devices. I have encountered so many people so plugged into online groups that they neglect to foster face-to-face relationships. That’s not to say social media and digital communication do not have their advantages. Through these mediums, I have maintained friendships with people from various duty stations around the world. I can stay connected through pictures and messaging apps regardless of time differences. Without social media and digital communication, many of these friendships would have faded into oblivion. I am very grateful for these platforms and the way they keep me connected to friends and family. Social media and digital communications can be beneficial, but must be practiced in moderation with mindfulness. What specific challenges and barriers in communication, if any, do you think social media reinforces in our society and on a global level? While digital communication has given us ease in communication on a global level, it has presented barriers that in person communication does not. Emotion can often be misinterpreted due to a lack of tone in a message. This may cause confusion, anger, and an all caps response. Delays in response and semantic barriers are additional challenges that social media and digital communication face. While social media can give us the convenience of a

global platform, there is so much lacking. Personality of the speaker, emotion, and body language are all easily missed. Have you found yourself relying predominantly on online communication (e.g., texting, instant messaging) in your personal and professional circles, instead of in-person meetings or phone conversations? Has anything been lost or gained from this transition? As a military spouse, I am geographically separated from my family and most of my friends. I have friends all over the world, from Germany to Washington State. Texting and online messaging have allowed me to stay in contact with them through various time zones. I definitely miss the in-person conversation, but I likely would have lost touch with many friends over the years without texting or messaging. Before making the transition to being a stay-at-home mom, I worked in the legal field. I found I had better results if I addressed something in person or with a phone call. Many of my co-workers argued this was less efficient, but I continuously produced quicker results than my co-workers, who relied mainly on messaging and email. In-person visits and phone calls are much harder to ignore or put on the back burner. I think workplace messaging and email have inhibited productivity and the value of facetime. Due to my efficiency and in-person conduct, the attorneys I supported recommended me for advancement and promotion. I firmly believe there is great value in seeing someone’s face and hearing their voice. Are we losing the art of communication? Is the language of textease and tweeting adversely affecting students’ ability to write effectively and efficiently in their academic coursework and beyond in their careers? Writing is a passion of mine. I love to take words and spread them across the page, but this is a skill I work hard to maintain. For several years, I was “on a break” from writing.

When I returned from my absence, I noticed struggles I never experienced before. Googling grammar rules and scouring writing prompts for inspiration became a new habit. The years I took off writing made my brain atrophy. The art of communication became an art of emojis and gifs. I firmly believe effective writing has been adversely affected due to the short form writing of text, tweets, and Instagram captions....