If there's anything in the world introverts desire; it's privacy. Twenty years ago, Introverts could not fully reap the benefits of private living. Interpersonal contact was an unwanted and necessary requirement of everyday life. Typical social interactions ranging from talking to cashiers at grocery stores to mingling with students in class were practically unavoidable. Conversation after grating conversation was forced upon the Introvert and only served to deepen one's anxiety.
However, Introverts still desire interaction. But how well can an Introvert interact when impromptu conversations relate to us like cats relate to mice? How could we attain or maintain a social life on our own terms?
The invention of Instant Messaging was the first in a series of answers to both problems.
Instant Messaging was invented by Yair Goldfinger, Arik Vardi, Sefi Vigiser, and Amnon Amir through their company Mirabilis in 1996. It became available to the general public under the mantle "ICQ" in November of that year.
Figuratively, Instant Messaging granted introverts a definitive voice. The nature of the service allowed introverts to avoid the insurmountable obstacles presented by face-to-face communication like body language or social cues. The socially acceptable pauses in responding to messages allowed for introverts to clearly and carefully align their thoughts to get their points across. This was a triumph.
Overtime, Instant Messaging quickly grew integrated into society and was adopted by many platforms. Nowadays, it's almost essential for new social media technologies to have some form of instant messaging. Examples of this include Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and even Tinder.
These platforms have served to build social bridges between the worlds of the introverted and the extroverted because communication has grown clearer. Contrary to popular belief, technology has served to make people MORE sociable. The primary means of communication has merely shifted from in-person to online.
There's a lot of benefits to online communication aside from extra time to construct responses. Online communication can also allow anonymity. The state of being anonymous can serve to remove a number of remaining anxieties an introvert might have. Too often fear, embarrassment, and shame play a role in shaping social interactions. When performing anonymous communication or merely talking to strangers online the impersonal veil allows individuals to act truer to their real nature. Introverts can show off their personality with minimal fear while simultaneously reaping some of the social satisfaction extroverts appear to acquire so easily.
Notably, as introverts gain confidence in communication via instant messaging; they learn to seek like-minded communities and to improve their conversational skills whilst potentially developing personal relationships. The scope of interests reflected by online communities is enormous; so almost every tech-savvy introvert can eventually develop an online support network.
These support networks can either replace unsatisfying relationships or fill the gap of missing relationships which couldn't be experienced in-person.
Instant Messaging grants Introverts the opportunity to round out their social lives.
Instant Messaging saved the Introvert.
