Forget about global warming, we need a big dose of social warming. I've heard this term thrown around in a few different ways but I interpret it as the need to disconnect from our computers and reconnect with each other face to face.
Peter Parker (that's Spiderman's alias for the non dorks) once said 'with great power, comes great responsibility'. Technology is an extremely powerful tool and as we become more and more entangled in the 'web', it's all too easy to lose sight of what we start foregoing.
Facebook is considered a device to socially connect and largely, it is. However, on another level it can foster separation and generate antisocial patterns of behavior.
It is now easier to cancel plans without explanation by clicking 'not attending.' You may also 'defriend' someone by simply clicking a button without any personal contact. Being told in such a manner that a friend never wants to have contact with you would be hard to comprehend in real life. Imagine a friend taking you out for coffee and 'breaking up' with you.
Online communities have now evolved to the point where our thirst to connect has become a thirst for attention. We yearn for recognition and approval through our photo uploads, posts and status updates, yet the scope to truly express our thoughts and feelings is absent online.
Our everyday human interactions have become in some instances human transactions.
The ease and speed of managing relationships through technology is increasing at a rapid pace, but what are the implications to our social skills and workplace interactions.
I'm sure we can all relate to the dreaded email tag. The arduous battle of sending emails back and forth with the media or clients only to reach the solution by the ninth or tenth email. The importance of having conversations or agreements in writing often means that email has to be the primary vehicle of communication.
While this rings true and should be adhered to, I think we could all save ourselves some of the guesswork and stress that comes with email tag and pick up the phone.
There are behavioral cues that are evident in real life that can go undetected when communicating solely on email. This also applies to phone conversations with pitch, tone and more importantly immediacy of reply all contributing to a much smoother and more human interaction.
Learning how to interact in real life situations and converse with people face to face or phone to phone is a skill most of us take for granted. The impact of excessive online networking (including email) and the potential ramifications to our workplace interactions and greater social skills should not be underestimated.
It looks like I'm painting a bleak picture but all hope is not lost! I'm sure we all know the slight feeling of euphoria when we finally meet someone that we have been emailing for months or the pleasant surprise when we actually speak on the phone to a voice that we've emailed, but never heard.
Let's all take a stand and instead of focusing solely on global warming let's concentrate on social warming.
Here's a little challenge I want to throw out to all of you; Every day, 'upgrade' one form of communication. For that email you were going to send ... make a call. For that Facebook message you were going to post ... meet up for a coffee.
I can already feel the social temperature starting to rise!
John Corpuz
Match Media
The AdNews NGen blog: ANTI-social media
15 August 2011