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LACK OF NON-VERBAL CUES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN 2030


LACK OF NON-VERBAL CUES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AND ITS IMPACT ON RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN 2030



Written by: Valéria Santos

Social media has revolutionized communication and the way we interact with people. While on one hand, social media has afforded more possibilities for interaction and reconnecting with people you no longer have face-to-face contact with, social media hasn’t been able to allow users to use important components of in-person communication which favor interpersonal connections and relationships development (Venter, 2019).
While we explore some of the ideas regarding interpersonal communication on social media and its relation to  the establishment of friendships, we examine current social media contexts and technology available nowadays and make correlations with what we anticipate in the coming years, especially in 2030.
If we think of communication technology available now in 2020, we see that written text posting on social media is still very much used. As we examine aspects of written communication, we understand that there are some limitations which may influence meaning in interpersonal communication. An important aspect of communication is non-verbal cues – which are essential and affect the forming of relationships online and friendship development.  As Venter (2019) proposes “Non-verbal language is seen as the best way of conveying emotional and physical cues” (p.3). The author explains that according to the social presence theory, communication in online settings lack non-verbal cues such as “facial expression, gestures, body positions, personal distance, vocal variety, and eye contact” (p.3).  As a result, users don’t experience “a sense of the other – … leading to warmth, friendliness, and satisfaction with the interaction” (p.3), which may then impact the forming of strong bonds and relationships.
When we think of the changes that have been made so far to minimize the lack of non-verbal cues, we see that positive progress has been made. Emojis and emoticons may be used to convey some emotions and attitudes, but non-verbal cues are still being transcribed into written code and it is subject to interpretation (BizEd, 2017).  Verter (20019) also highlights that the use of tools that allow video call or conferencing help to diminish the negative effect of limited non-verbal cues. It enables seeing and hearing each other and “it gives a sense of presence” (p.4). Nevertheless, when we communicate through video calls, “communicators normally sit relatively still in front of the two-dimensional display on a screen without perfect resolution. It may influence the fluency of the process. There is a lack of, for instance, olfactory and kinaesthetic sensory information in this kind of communication, creating a weaker quality of communication” (p.4).
We expect that technology will change considerably in this decade and that by 2030 more tools are available to allow us to communicate meaningfully, utilizing more attributes of in-person communication  so that it positively impacts the quality of relational interactions. However, we do recognize that even with improvements, social media might still be limited. We have no answers now. Will it ever be possible? Will we find a way to overcome the communication barriers and limitations?
We’d like to hear your opinion. Let us also know what else will impact the forming of friendships on social media in 2030. Let us know by leaving your comment.

Read more about it: Conflict resolution in online contexts and its impact on friendship in 2030

References:
BizEd (2017). The Rise of the Nonverbal in Social Media: Digital marketers gain greater savvy in communicating nonverbal cues. Retrieved from https://bized.aacsb.edu/articles/2017/07/rise-of-nonverbal-in-social-media
Venter, E. (2019). Challenges for meaningful interpersonal communication in a digital era. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332449641_Challenges_for_meaningful_interpersonal_communication_in_a_digital_era

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