How Does Technology Affect Communication?

Digital Vision/Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

According to OpposingViews, technology reduces communication costs, improves the speed of information exchange, allows communication in diverse formats, promotes the sharing of ideas and causes security concerns. Late 20th and early 21st century technologies that have greatly affected communication processes include mobile phones, the Web, social networking and e-mail. Through technology, urgent messages can be relayed with ease, regardless of the position or location of the communicating parties.

OpposingViews reveals that through enhanced communication processes, technology promotes social and professional relationships. Technology allows people and groups to find better solutions and reach informed decisions. Communication processes within training and education programs have been enhanced through teleconferencing.

Technology has a negative effect on non-verbal communication processes because it eliminates face-to-face interaction. Technology also affects the socialization process because it causes people to be more concerned about online life as opposed to social life. Addiction to technology can result in loneliness and social anxiety.

Technology allows for malicious motives in communication processes because it enables people to pretend to be who they are not. Loss of confidentiality and privacy, in communication processes, are the main security concerns in the use of technology. Technology has caused the spread of information to be flexible and diverse, including the use of audio, text, video, animation and graphics.

ADVERTISEMENT