Snaps, Emoji’s and GIF’s, Oh My!

As smart phones have gotten smarter and new apps are being made every day, the way we communicate with one another has changed as well. The ease with which we can send a message, whether it’s a text, snap, DM or even a Gif, has allowed us to reach more people more quickly than ever before. At the same time, while the frequency of our communication may have gone up, that doesn’t necessarily mean the quality has. Today, we have 3 tips for clear communication in a digital world. Choose the right method, gauge the relationship and Don’t call when you can text!

Tip number 1 is choose the right method. Some messages are best communicated in a text message, while others are better on Facetime. Sometimes, an old fashioned phone call is the way to go. How can you know which is best for what you are wanting to communicate?

Think about what you are trying to say. Is it funny? Gifs are great for that! They can convey the tone of what you want to say much better than text alone. While the words alone on the screen could be interpreted in many different ways, Gifs convey tone and often humor. Do you need a quick response? In this case, text may be the best way to go. Is it something deeper that you need to talk through? A phone call, facetime or setting up an in person meeting will probably be the best ways to go.

Our second tip is to gauge the relationship.

We all develop our own ways to talking with our families and friends. Some people have family text groups and then a subset of siblings groups that you can be even more open in. Sometimes mom just doesn’t share the same sense of humor that you and your brothers do...

Anyways, while a text message may be quick and easy, it may not always be the appropriate way to get your message across. You wouldn’t, or at least shouldn’t, send a snap to your manager at work telling them that you can’t make it in for your shift today. It also may not be appropriate to text your teacher or college professor after hours with a question about class. Depending on the relationship, you need to decide which method of communication is best.

You also want to make sure that what you are sending is appropriate for the relationship that you have. Is it respectful? Is it profane? Could your emoji be misinterpreted? Especially keeping in mind that everything you send can be saved and used against you later, you need to make sure that everything your sending is above the board.

Tip number 3 is, and this is a big one for teens and young adults, don’t call when you can text or facetime. For many different reasons, a phone call can cause a lot of anxiety for young people today. For others, it’s just the inconvenience of answering the phone at work or when they’re with other people. The point is, if it can be clearly communicated in a faster and less intimate way, take that route, which leads us to our final tip!

The bonus tip for digital communication is to put the phone down. If you have a hard time talking to people face to face but no problem texting or snapping all day long, it may be time to step away from the screen and stretch those communication muscles. Some of us have developed a seemingly separate personality who, online, is confident, assertive, funny and knowledgeable about many things while in person, we can be shy, insecure and avoid real conversations. If you recognize this pattern in your life, don’t worry. The fact that you can be all of those things online means that you have the ability to be them in the real world, you just have to be willing to put yourself out there and engage with the people around you. Don’t call when you can text but also don’t sit on your phone when the world is right in front of you! And one last thing, your mom wants us to tell you to answer the phone when she calls!

If you have tips or questions you’d like to share, please leave them in the comments below. If you have found this series helpful, consider sharing it on your socials with the people you love!