Are We Too Dependent on Digital Communication?

Were you affected by Google’s Gmail outage this morning?

Millions of people woke up to error messages and blank pages, causing a flurry of activity on social networking sites. I think the perception is that when the mighty Google goes down, something must be seriously wrong – like the end of the world is coming, or the sky is about to fall. I watched as people on Twitter scrambled to try to come up with another way to start their day. Some people were frantic, while others embraced the chance to ignore email for a while.

When things like this happen it reminds me of how dependent we are on technology. Cell phones, email, and the internet are what makes the world go ’round these days. We use gadgets to communicate. We conduct meetings through webinars and virtual conference rooms. Gone are the days when we walk down the street or drive across town to deliver a message. Nope, we fire up the browser, type a message, and hit send. Done.

But what if the unthinkable happened?

So what happens if the day came that the internet shut down completely? It’s a pretty sobering thought, isn’t it? Online stores would be forced to close their virtual doors without their online customers. Web developers would be irrelevant. Social networking would have to be done in person. People would be lost without their standard means of communication, and we’d be relegated back to what many consider to be “the dark ages” – when we had to have face-to-face contact in order to communicate.

Who says communication has to require a screen and a keyboard?

I see kids (including my own) texting and posting messages to their friends on Facebook. While that’s not a bad thing in and of itself, it can stunt communication skills if used too much. Do we still know how to converse in person? Can we work through a problem face-to-face, or do we hide behind our keyboard? When people communicate primarily through digital means, they lack the skills to communicate in person. Negotiating skills never get developed. People skills become unnecessary. My son and his girlfriend were having an argument a while ago, and they were arguing through texting. I said “why don’t you just call her?” He said she wouldn’t pick up the phone – that it was easier just to text.

Exactly. It’s just easier.

How do you think digital communications affect you in your life? Do you have it in check, or has it taken over a bit? Post your thoughts in the comments.

P.S. I challenge you to pick up the phone today, or better yet, meet up with someone in person – even if it’s just to say hi and reconnect. Deliver that proposal in person. Go to the bank instead of banking online. Do one thing. Just for one day.