Social Media and Changing Ways of Communicating

Technological developments and ease of internet access have an impact on social media usage trends.Furthermore, trends in social media use also have an impact on changing the way we communicate interpersonally.According to Paul Booth, PhD (2013), a professor at the Faculty of Communication at DePaul University Chicago, there are at least three issues that arise regarding the role of social media and the way we communicate.First, when we communicate via social media, we tend to trust the person we are talking to so that the conversation becomes more open.

Second, social connections are not as strong as face-to-face communication so we are not used to building deeper relationships.Third, we tend to choose to interact with interlocutors who agree with us so that our perspective becomes less broad and limited.

So how has social media changed the way we communicate?

1. The existence of social media creates a sense of urgency and need to share.The basic principle of communication is that we send messages and then receive feedback.The existence of Instagram with a Stories feature that only lasts for 24 hours creates a need to respond immediately in real time.

2. Social media opens up in-depth perspectives on faraway places.We can display footage of our world through social media and anyone on the internet can see it and do the same.In this way, we can see places that previously seemed far away without having to go.

3. Through social media we can also access the complete story of information, not just snippets or snippets.Social media has developed so much, not only writing, we can also upload pictures and videos.

4. Social media also makes digital messages more personal with image, text, sticker and filter features.We can be creative by adding a personal touch to every content we display on social media.

5. Apart from being a communication channel, social media also brings news back to Millennials' lives.News reports are packaged briefly and concisely, the use of hashtags on social media makes the distribution of news reports very fast and massive.

6. Social media provides the ability to share moments directly (live).Things that were previously unknown are now accessible to everyone.This opens up new perspectives in communication and can be used as momentum for change for the better.

Today's social media has changed the way we communicate, creating new opportunities for self-image and learning, and even providing the opportunity to bring our personalities back into the digital world.