If one were to stand in the middle of a college campus, a busy street sidewalk, or the hallways of a school, it would be difficult not to notice how most people’s heads are down and how most people’s hands are occupied with checking their phone’s messages and social media. If one finds themselves in a room where they are surrounded by strangers -- a terrifying situation for most millennials -- the easiest and safest solution seems to be to pull out a cell phone and seek comfort in digital friendships and escape into the comforts of the social media atmosphere.
However, even in the company of friends in a group “hangout” session, there will be long periods of time where the room is quiet, one might even say eerily silent, and the only interactions seem to be occurring between fingers and touch screens.
Will the dependence on cell phones and digital interactions for social comfort become a problem for millennials? According to Vivian Giang of Business Insider, by 2020 millennials will "spend most of their energy sharing short social messages, being entertained, and being distracted away from deep engagement with people and knowledge." They will also lack "deep-thinking capabilities" and "face-to-face social skills."
While some may argue that the idea of in-person social skills relies more on one’s personality and is not necessarily affected by the frequent use of technology, it is much easier to avoid conflict and uncomfortable social situations behind the safety of a screen. The confidence and safety that one may feel while sending an angry text, tweet or comment on social media does not realistically prepare one for how to handle conflict in person, a skill that is necessary in most work settings and adult situations.
However, despite our generation’s apparent lack in face-to-face social skills, one cannot deny that our exposure to a wide range of new communication technologies and social media platforms has led us to develop unique skills in communication that older generations never had. We can communicate and share ideas and news with anyone, anywhere, and in a variety of ways, whether it is a Snapchat, text message, or Instagram post.
So, has our generation forgotten how to communicate? Not necessarily. We simply have been raised in a world where methods of communication are rapidly changing and developing, and therefore our own communication skills have changed and developed along with them. It is still important, however, that we do not forget the value in daily face-to-face conversations and in-person communication skills. All it takes is the occasional courage to look up from the screen and put down the phone.
