Contrary to the rest of the world, I believe that the technology made us better at communication. We have a plethora of channels in which we can share our thoughts and our lives. Never before have we been able to communicate with our immediate circle as well as strangers with similar interests.
I've met many people, young and old, who argue that our communication is more impersonal than ever since the advent of the internet. These people believe that it's better to talk in person; while texting and social media lose the ability to generate intimate conversation.
We just have to take an honest look at our lives and realize that we are busier than ever. Nowadays, we may have to make significant sacrifices to get back to the earlier days when we had more free time to spend time with our loved ones in person. Our schedules are packed with meetings, conference calls, work, errands, volunteering, and school.
We live life at a much faster pace, and technology greatly keeps us in touch with our world. Text messaging is a great resort for me when I am too busy to have personal phone conversations. I can reply whenever I want. I can choose to reply if I want to. And unlike the phone, texting does not interrupt my life. Problem solved.
Social media is more innovative than ever and serves as a great outlet for sharing the events that make our lives richer. We can reach people in countries all over the world by simply writing keywords with a hashtag in front of it. Many companies like Ning and Google are even allowing everyday internet users to create their own social networks for a small monthly fee. YouTube has created thousands of internet sensations. An average person can upload a web series to YouTube for free, accessing thousands of viewers internationally. LinkedIn provides access to thousands of professional networks in many industries. For those who prefer to meet face to face, joining a Meetup group can allow for personal interaction with people in close proximity.
Businesses can profit immensely by taking advantage of the technology boom. Pay Per Click advertising can attract potential customers when they type in what they are looking for in the search engine. Joining business forums can pay off by networking with people in the same field. Setting up an online store has gotten easier than ever, and companies can showcase new products on social media for free. Businesses on any budget can now advertise on Facebook. Sharing expertise in your respective field by video can attract millions of viewers on YouTube. Blogging can turn a pastime into a full-time career by sharing affiliate links on your site.
These are all forms of communication that are constantly changing to adapt to our hectic lives. The beauty of technology is that anyone with any skill set and interest can benefit from being online. Technology and online communication is not going away anytime soon, and that's a good thing. Instead of reminiscing about the past, we should seriously think about embracing these forms of interaction that help make us better connected to our world.
