“Be right back” “Got to go” “What have you been up to?”… although shortened to their text versions, these were common phrases I used with my friends daily on MSN Messenger in the mid to late 2000’s. We had instant communication, but we were not always connected. Now with the integration of smartphones into our lives, and applications being available across all platforms, these conversations and updates on people’s life activities are almost constant. We went from instant messaging to always on, and with that, the concept of leaving… left.
I’m not going to argue whether this change is better or worse, but it was fascinating to me that the use of these phrases in online communication came and went so quickly. The pace of change in technology and the impact this has on our language and communication styles is undeniable.
Anyway gtg, speak soon!
The integration of smart phones with our lives has resulted in a generation (read ‘zombie horde’) of social media users (read ‘addicts’) who have been conditioned like Pavlovian dogs to expect instant gratification. This has undoubtedly resulted in wider adverse effects to their well-being, mindset and psyche.
Astute observation, good post!
Cheers,
Jon