By Kelly
Twitter: one of the many new online social crazes that allows an individual to update their "status" in less than 140 words via their phones and/or computers, etc. About two weeks ago, I decided to jump on the Twitter train. I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. Everyone from my sister to Miley Cyrus to- get this- Folger's coffee. Crazy, if you ask me. I played around and came to the conclusion that I did not really need Twitter; it was impractical in my texting-free cell usage, and I didn't need another online distraction, honestly. So I bade Farewell to Twitter. I don't think it misses me.
Regardless of my short time with Twitter, it has made me think about all these online communication sites. Never before have we been privy to direct access into the lifestyles of the famous and not-so-famous. In an article from Relevant Magazine, Adam Smith discusses the impact sites such as Twitter have on our culture. More importantly, what does it say about our culture and about ourselves? After reading this article, I found myself really struck by one question. What is the motivation for spending time on websites like Twitter, Facebook, or blogs? Are they mere time-killers? I certainly have killed time on Facebook in the past, much to the dismay of my nursing studies. Is it an opportunity to share in community? After all, it connects you to new friends and old - even Mom! Or is it the need to rack up self-value points according to how many messages I receive in a day? There is something that sparks momentary joy when I see a "new message" posted on my wall or on photos. What propels us to check out the online world every five minutes during the day? Is it to feel justified and valued by people's responses? It all seems so innocent, and, most of the time, it is. But where is the line drawn? When does the online world of relationships and expression hinder those of the REAL world?
Something like 90% of our communication is non-verbal. With that in mind, I had to stop to consider what the online world does to our communication as individuals. How can you read emotion through a computer screen? What is truly communicated when a person cannot hold a face-to-face conversation without texting or twittering simultaneously? The deepest need of every individual is to be heard, to be acknowledged. This takes active listening, a practice of removing thoughts of self during conversation to hear, process, and help the other person feel acknowledged, cared for, and heard. I can't help but see the irony here: Sites like these aim to increase the ability to communicate, but I can't help but think that it's really just communication on steroids. Quick benefit, impressive results, but also has the potential to be very damaging and harmful.
Communication was never easy, and it never will be easy. It takes some blood, sweat, and tears to train ourselves to be effective communicators. We must exercise good judgment in what we dedicate time to; we must choose moderation for what we take in. Communication is a daily discipline, and you can use it or abuse it. Facebook and Twitter and other sites can either be adjuncts to healthy communication in the real world, or they can foster in-genuine, self-centered communication. As Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, "'Everything is permissible'-but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'-but not everything is constructive." (1 Cor 10:23) Everything has the potential to build up or tear down. Even Twitter.