Although most people may not agree to the fact that the internet limits communication, in this page we will try to convince you otherwise. This can be seen in two ways. Firsts in the fact the internet itself is a limited form of communication. And second in the fact that certain protocols or aspects of the internet discourage communication.
When you consider the internet might discourage affective communication; the most interesting and notable affect would be the fact that the progress in internet communication has become a wall against conventional forms of communicating. Many people now prefer online conversation such as e-mails and particularly instant messaging over conventional talking and speaking. Despite the fact that we are not made to sit in front of a computer screen and punch away at the keyboard, many people are content do so. They become socially incapable in the real world and often find it difficult to interact with people on a regular day to day basis.
Also, while communication via the internet may be quite alright when moderated it can be cumbersome when people become addicted to such a form of conversation; spending day and night doing nothing but chatting online and updating their Friendster profiles. In many cases as it may turn out most people who are addicted to internet communication are also not that much aware of the risks of such a method. There are unaware that the manner in which internet communications take place is susceptible to being monitored. Many people even consider that internet communication itself is like sending a post card; anyone can see what’s written on it. This puts the sender and/or receiver at risk if they are not careful of what they write about and therefore discourages communication through the internet.
Another problem that the internet poses on communicating is the form of communication which can take place online. Sometimes the messages passed across cyberspace can be offensive and abusive. Though adults may be prepared or geared for such conversation, or information, we must not forget that almost anyone can access the internet and this includes children of a young age as well. Freedom of communication and access to information places them at a rather high risk in terms of ethicality. This is another reason why internet is restricted as a form of communication and a form of information itself.
Interestingly the remaining negative affects on communication one can think of relates to the way messages are composed online. Most conversations (except those which require formality) are composed in a matter which emphasizes speed over quality. Many a times, symbols and phrases are substituted in a message. This often leads to distortion of information, especially since different messages are interpreted differently all over the world. In one instance there was a case where the phrase ‘you’re awesome’ sent by an American in a internet based selling corporation, was interpreted as offensive by a women, a Russian co-worker. In the end messages were distorted so much so that everyone started back biting one another and the company was close to falling apart.
This in turn brings us to one problem that is not quite easily apparent for most internet users. Almost all of the information on the web is based on English. Language has long been barrier to effective communication. In this case we agree that the internet is a treasure trove of information and it can be used to communicate all over the world, but the truth is we can only communicate with others whom we can talk to properly. In many cases this happens to be those who know English.
From another perspective those who use the internet are limited only to those who can use text, speech or in some instances both. Most if not all communications via internet require an input on the part of the user. If a user is unable to do so, then he cannot communicate. With this in mind, it is rather easy to understand that the internet in itself is not a perfect form of communication.
What’s more perhaps the most annoying and noticeable aspect of internet communication is that of spam. Unsolicited information tends to filter into our mail in the thousands and tend to cost us all greatly in time which in itself can be translated into money. The frustrating part is that creating spam in itself is relatively simple and inexpensive, which in turn puts a barrier to communication on the internet. At this point I’d like to point out that bots, programs that send false messages, viruses are all also barriers to communication on the internet.
SO… as one can see, communicating via the internet is not as effective or as useful as we mentioned before.
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