-a teen
Steiner’s research found many teens opting for communicating through text because “’it’s just too awkward for them to do it face-to-face.’” Those teens say texting is easier and better because you can think about what to write and you don’t have to see the other person’s reaction. However, Steiner, points out that, “Learning how to communicate is one of life’s greatest challenges and gifts. The capacity to know and communicate what you are thinking and feeling, when someone else has their different thoughts and feelings and you both are upset, is a core life skill.” What is missing from ‘teching’ is “the ability to see the impact of what you are saying on the other person, to listen to what the other person is feeling without losing touch with yourself, and to be able to figure out together how to move forward.”
Reaction:
Avoiding face-to-face contact is not that new. Teens in my day often wrote notes when they had to say something tough. Still, I think writing is different from ‘teching’ or texting. You naturally take more time to compose your thoughts, which gives you more time to consider the impact your words could have. When texting, I often write ‘too’ much because I want to make sure it’s received the way I mean.
Recently, I’ve heard of people who have made commitments to themselves to never text concerning an emotional subject. I know one dating couple that made a decision to stop texting and actually talk when they were upset or needed to work through something. They didn’t give up texting; they just gave it some parameters.
Questions:
Is the opening quote by the teen true?
Do you feel teens are less good at communicating in person because of the prevalence of texting?
Have you or anyone you know made healthy parameters around texting for the sake of their friendship/relationship?
Do you feel teens are less good at communicating in person because of the prevalence of texting?
ReplyDeleteYes they are!!! Many teens and even adults text too much. Texting takes out the friendship and makes it a don’t-talk-to-me-just-text-me-about-it-even-though-we-are-sitting-right-next-to-each-other, relationship. This makes it easier to say things without thinking about the reaction and how it will hurt the other person. Although some people say that typing it out makes it easier to think about what you will say, I disagree. I agree with thinking through what you will say and even writing it down, especially when taking about an emotional topic, but then you should say it to them, don't just text them or hand them a note. When first getting up the courage to say something it helps to write it down. But to really respect the other person you need t make a conscious decision to reach out.
Will you reach out?
-My Name
Goodness, you have wisdom beyond your years! This is so well said. I do think that writing something causes you to think about it before you say/send it, but texting to me is not the same as classic "writing." Texting is often flippant and quick. People don't usually pore over their texts making sure to explain what they mean and how they want you to feel about it. They are just quick, short statements that lack sensitivity and are full of ambiguity ("k" - how is one supposed to 'read' that?). When someone has something difficult to say, there can be wisdom in writing out your thoughts on paper. It slows you down and causes you to consider what you are really saying. This isn't true with texting from what I can see.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think that technology has taken away to socialize with each other like "human beings". I think that as technology starts to advance, the way we communicate with one another will also change. The quote from the teen does hold some truth, in the aspect that we are becoming too dependent on technology to communicate. I don't think that technology has taken away our ability to talk face to face with one another, but teens today are starting to opt more to the internet as a means to communicating.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that technology has completely taken away the ability to socialize but I do feel like there is a part that has ben taken away do to texting and social media. I don't think teens are less good at communicating I person I just feel like they don't do it as often because of technology and texting. My families have eliminated cell phones and electronic devices during family time or family meals to socialize instead of looking at devices.
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I think some teens would hate your family's rules about this, but your family is giving you the world. So many kids pray for such an environment in their home. God bless your family for making such a radical, counter-cultural choice!
DeleteDo you feel teens are less good at communicating in person because of the prevalence of texting?
ReplyDeleteI think that it is/isn't technology advancement which has caused SOME teens to communicate less in person. My reasoning as to why it is technology faults because as it's advancing the more teens are going to use their phones to text more and then think "I can just get out everything I want say texting, instead of talking to them" because of how much advance the technology is whether they notice it or not. Then again I don't it is technology fault because it then again does depend on who the teen is because for an example I had a classmate who over text was way different over text and some considered more "out-going" over text but in person very,very quiet. But on the other hand my friends and I only text each other mainly for planning things to go altogether and checking up on each other but talk way more in person. All in all I think there can be both sides to how SOME teens don't communicate as much in person than they do over text.
Absolutely, it is a strong trend among teens, but you are right that there are a few who are resisting the status quo and are wise about their tech usage.
DeleteI believe that texting is a impact on how good they're communication skills are in person rather over text. For instants, people who seem to be more socially active over the phone and by texting have a harder time giving a public speech or presenting in front of a class. Sometimes people also seem to have a harder time making friends and being their self around other people when they text a lot. Some people have a harder time approaching people in person, face to face, and coming up with a way to talk with a certain person, so they rather rely on texting, and send a simple "Hey" to get a conversation started. Teens really just seem sometimes to feel like they rather fit some kind character while over text they are who they truly are. So I do think texting and social medias do have a at least some type of impact on how great people can communicate in person rather over the phone.
ReplyDeleteThat is really an insightful point: that maybe texting reveals "who they truly are." Technology takes away lots of inhibition and people tend to "let things out" online that they wouldn't in real life. In a sense, then, it shows people's true colors, whether good or bad. Excellent point.
Deletei mean yeah. Texting has (In a way) taken away a lot of social activities and skills. but it also lets us tlak over seas and from easy places. but i do strongly belive cell phones ruined real life relations. I do belive still many value face to face relations though.
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