Communication can be considered a core element of our civilization. All animals have the ability to communicate with each other through sounds – cooing, chirping, hooting, barking, growling, mooing, bleating, and so on. But they don’t have languages like us. We communicate through spoken languages. Our language encompasses the creation of a range of unique bits of sounds called phonemes. Every language possesses distinct sets of phonemes, and the mixing of these phonemes gives rise to words and sentences that convey specific meanings to the listener.
The development of writing came much later in human history as a means of representing spoken language in a visual form. It started with pictures, and symbols, and eventually developed into the alphabet. Writing allowed information to be recorded, stored, and communicated over time and space.
With the advancement of technology, we now have digital communication tools such as email, instant messages, electronic billboards, signs, scrolling ads, and more. The digital world of the internet and web has popularized the term “social media.” Social media provides users the ability to share information, photos, videos, hold conversations, etc. over the internet. Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, X (former Twitter), and TikTok are considered top social media platforms.
Social media has so captured our lifestyle that we now convey our greetings and wishes to immediate family members through social media. Love and wishes for spouses or children on occasions like birthdays and anniversaries are posted on social media. The words and feelings that were once told only in private are now open to the public eye. The concept of privacy has changed. Even when we meet in person, we concentrate more on taking photographs and sharing them on social media with accompanying comments, rather than deeply engaging in conversations and enjoying each other’s company. Similarly, the practice of photographing food and posting it on social media has become an integral part of dining at social events.
According to an Aljazeera news report of June 30, 2023, 4.8 billion people use social media every day, with an average daily usage of 2.5 hours per person. This figure was 1.5 hours in 2012, as stated by Statista. The trend is on the rise. Digital socializing is taking over the physical one.
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This article was published in the Daily Sun on September 24, 2023. Please read the full article here or here.