Is Technology Enhancing or Hindering Interpersonal Communication?

Is Technology Enhancing or Hindering Interpersonal Communication? A Framework and Preliminary Results to Examine the Relationship Between Technology Use and Nonverbal Decoding Skill

Technology has become an integral part of our lives, especially in the context of interpersonal communication. We use various devices and platforms to communicate with others, such as smartphones, social media, video calls, and online games. But how does technology affect our ability to understand and respond to nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice? Does technology enhance or hinder our nonverbal decoding skill?

Nonverbal decoding skill is the ability to accurately interpret the meaning and intention behind nonverbal signals in communication. It is an essential skill for effective social interaction, as it helps us to empathize, cooperate, and resolve conflicts with others. However, some researchers have argued that technology may impair our nonverbal decoding skill, as it reduces the amount and quality of nonverbal cues available in communication. For example, text-based communication may lack the richness and immediacy of face-to-face communication, while video calls may have technical issues that distort or delay nonverbal cues.

On the other hand, some researchers have suggested that technology may enhance our nonverbal decoding skill, as it provides new opportunities and challenges for nonverbal communication. For example, technology may enable us to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds, which may increase our exposure and sensitivity to diverse nonverbal cues. Technology may also require us to pay more attention and effort to nonverbal cues, as they may be more subtle or ambiguous in mediated communication.

To address this debate, we propose a framework that examines the relationship between technology use and nonverbal decoding skill. We argue that technology use can have both positive and negative effects on nonverbal decoding skill, depending on various factors, such as the type, frequency, and context of technology use, as well as the individual characteristics of the user. We also present some preliminary results from a study that tested our framework using a sample of college students. We measured their technology use habits and their nonverbal decoding skill using a standardized test. We found that technology use was positively associated with nonverbal decoding skill for some types of technology (e.g., video games), but negatively associated for others (e.g., social media). We also found that some individual factors (e.g., personality traits) moderated the relationship between technology use and nonverbal decoding skill.

Our framework and results provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how technology affects our nonverbal communication abilities. We hope that our work will inspire further research and practical implications for improving interpersonal communication in the digital age.