How social media has improved human communication

Communicating within a group of individuals of the same kind seems to be an unmistakable hallmark of intelligence among animals. Whales, dolphins, elephants, ravens and our evolutionary cousins, chimps, are experts in relaying messages to others. But none have mastered the art of communication like we humans have. By transiliently hurtling on the path of advancing human communication, we have arrived at today's information age. The development of mass communication was a notable leap, of which the current leading instrument is social media.

Social media has collapsed the barriers of distance, allowing us to connect instantly with people from all over the world. Through platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp conversations that once took days through letters now occur in real-time. Light-speed data transmission is at the core of this change. A network of submarine fibre optic cables lines the ocean bed and that of satellites blankets the Earth to facilitate this.

Moreover, social media has introduced a remarkable variety of knowledge and information to be disseminated. Online communities of compatible venturers, such as Github and Deviantart, empower them to share resources and expertise. Users from any part of the world can liberally share their opinions and lifestyles, news & announcements circumnavigate the globe in an instant and targeted advertisements feed our interests and allow the internet to be accessible to everyone.

My recent experience summarises all of these. While sporting on Chess.com yesterday, I initiated a simple conversation with my opponent, a Brazilian, who was texting in Portuguese. They seemed nice; we got to know each other's names and asked about our countries. State the probability of me being able to converse with a person halfway around the world, who doesn't speak the same language as me and shares one of my interests while playing a timed game of chess, if not for the existence of social networking.

Gen Z is often made a subject of ridicule by the elders for their seemingly attention-seeking behaviour on social platforms, and rightfully so. Nevertheless, I wish everybody realises the fact that what we keep in our pockets and access with our fingertips, is the epitome of human ingenuity. In conclusion, social media has not only improved but also revolutionized human communication, making it faster, more inclusive, and multifaceted than ever before.