No Substitutes Please

Instant messaging via the computer, cell phone and portable communication device has become increasingly popular over the past several years. Using text messaging and programs such as MSN Messenger and Blackberry Messenger as a means of communicating has sky rocketed not only among teens but amongst children and adults as well. Although Instant Messaging (IM) and Short Message Service (SMS) have become excellent communication tools, they also bring about various negative effects on users.

Let’s discuss the effects these tools have on people’s relationships and interactions with others. IM and SMS do allow people to communicate quickly and it can be efficient in certain situations. However, they also tend to remove the personal and emotional aspects of the conversation and situation.

As a method of communication, IM plays a great “middle man” between e-mail and face to face conversation. It enables people to keep in touch despite possible barriers such as time, money and distance. In addition, it allows for multi tasking and the ability to maintain various conversations at one time. IM and SMS are both great means of making plans, exchanging information, quick clarification or questions, and keeping in touch with friends and family. However, if simple “old fashioned” face to face communication and phone conversations are completely replaced with these methods, that relationship is bound to suffer.

The problem is, with so many things going on at once, there must be a large lack of focus on each individual situation. In addition, the emotions of the communicators can be very easily misinterpreted in the faceless communications of IM and SMS. The tone of one’s voice is not present in this sort of conversation. Therefore, someone can type one thing and the receiver can interpret it as something completely different. Sarcasm and jokes are perfect examples of this type of confusion.

All in all, IM and SMS can be great tools for maintaining and strengthening relationships. Humans are social beings who require communication and interaction with others. Instant messaging and text messaging are often effective means of this. However, people need to be careful not to eliminate face to face communication and allow these other forms of conversation to substitute for good old fashioned contact and interaction.

BY: NIKOLE DAVIES