Summary
Face to Face vs Digital Communication
I have always had a hunch that the quality of interaction via online communication fails in comparison to face to face communication. I once took a trip where no technology was allowed to be had during the duration of the stay, and I when I returned back to the “real world” where communication via online means was abundant, I felt unfullfilled and disatisfied with my online interactions. It turns out there may be some research that align with my feelings on this particular subject.
What more perfect scenario for study than the conditions led by lockdown due to Covid 19, where many people were a lot more isolated in their day to day lives. Many people tried to compensate for lack of face to face contact with digital communication. The question is, was it enough though? Was it an adequate replacement? The answer, according to this research is simply, no. Media Richness Theory (MRT) states that the degree of nonverbal cues, including and especially the immediacy of them, is the most important prerequisite for building relationships. (S. Stieger). In communication situations where there was little to no social cues (example, text based communication), interaction partners will conclude that their partners are less empathetic or friendly. Empathy and friendliness are basis for the foundation for relationships, and without this cruicial component, it is much more difficult to form bonds.
In a somewhat recent large cross-sectional study by Hall et al, it was shown that face to face contact outside of the home was a big predictor of wellbeing. Another cross-sectional study by Newson et al, followed with similar findings. Face to face had positive effects on wellbeing and was not able to be made up for with digital communication. More information on these experiments will be posted at the end of this blog for your convernience.
So why is face to face communication so much more important in regards to mental health than its digital competitor? Researchers have long noted that far less communication is transfered over by online interaction than face to face, including cues about personality, social status, mood, etc. All of these features enhance the experience of face to face contact, where as online communication tends to strip all these elements. Our minds have evolved for many years with face to face contact, with only recent introductions where we are talking with one another, but devoid of all of those essential components. This might have a “dimming down” effect on the entire experience and is certainly in conjuntion to my own personal experiences.
I think whether we know it or not, our online activity could be effecting us in ways we might be entirely consciously aware of. I think it is important to keep track of our mental health, and when we notice we feel better or worse mentally. Of course, this isn’t entirely a stright forward subject. Those with anxiety and other mental health related isses could find reprieve from some social interactions, but generally speaking face to face interactions give us a richer experience than online communication.
References
S. Stieger, D. Lewetz, D Willinger (2023), Face-to-Face More Important than Digital Communication for Mental Health During the Pandemic, Scientific Reports, Nature, Oct 23, 2924 https://pdf.live/edit?url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10191089/pdf/41598_2023_Article_34957.pdf&guid=c91d8b3a-92e6-604a-17f7-96c56d7af110&installDate=110423&source=google-d_pdftab_crx