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Jaclyn Yuro
Prof. Mary Miles
ENG137H
1 December 2015
Paradigm Shift Paper
There is never going to be a substitute for face-to-face communication, but we
have seen since the alphabet, to the telephone and now the Internet, that whenever people
find a new way to communicate they will flock to it.
- Howard Rheingold
In our society today, there are many cultural shifts that appear to be taking
place. We are moving away from what has been comfortable for so many decades before,
and into a new way of living. One perfect example of this is the paradigm shift away
from face-to-face communication and towards online communication. Since the early
2000s, young children have grown up with cell phones that enable them to communicate
solely through technology, and it has become a new way of living that is seemingly
foreign to the older generations. Not only cell phones, but computers, tablets, and all
others gadgets alike are transforming the way in which humans communicate and also the
way in which they conduct business. Overall, there is an obvious shift that has taken
place in our society towards technology-based communication and away from face-toface interpersonal communication.
To begin, those living in the early 1900s could not imagine a day when they
would be able to call someone on the other side of the world with the push of a button.
They couldnt fathom the idea of sending digital messages through a wireless phone in

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just a few seconds. They didnt even think it would be possible to have infinite
information available at their fingertips via the World Wide Web. However, these
technological advances became a shocking reality, although it wasnt until the late
1900s. Now, only a few decades later, these are concepts our society takes for granted. In
such a short period of time, digital communication has taken over our everyday lives and
transformed the way in which we live. To put this into perspective, in 1984, only about
8% of households in the United States had a computer, as compared to 76% in 2011
(Drago 14). About half of the people living today grew up before text-messaging and emailing were common methods of communication, yet in the not-so-distant future there
will be a time when everyone living in this country will have grown up with these
technological advances. Many companies, such as Apple Inc., have been a heavy
influence on the way in which we communicate as they are constantly marketing new
devices that claim popularity and efficiency. While we should not disregard the research
capabilities and information transferring technology that these smartphones, tablets, and
laptops conveniently contain, they should not be the primary way in which we
communicate with others. When a digital network controls human interaction, there are
so many essential features of life that are lost in translation. This is an aspect of online
communication that is affecting personal relationships, as well as professional
relationships.
To take that a step further, personal relationships have undoubtedly been changed
by online communication. Face-to-face communication used to be an essential part of
human connection, now some friendships are formed and maintained solely on the
Internet and those involved never actually meet in real life. In addition, friends or

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relatives used to be required to talk out their differences face-to-face, however, cell
phones now enable them to send brief messages (that may be misinterpreted by the
receiver) and avoid the situation entirely with a missing reply, if they wish. This is
something that cannot be mirrored during an in-person conversation. Still, there have
been positive implications of this social shift as long distance relationships that were once
nearly impossible to maintain, can now be enhanced by text messaging, e-mailing, and
video-chatting alike. Regardless of the positive or negative factors, there is no doubt that
this shift away from face-to-face communication is happening.
This shift towards digital communication is especially apparent in the business
world. Many companies are now opting for videoconferences that increase efficiency
and cut back on travel costs for business partners, as an alternative to face-to-face
meetings. It is undoubtedly easier for a large group of people to schedule an online
conference together than it is for them to make arrangements to meet in person. But can
these digital conferences truly replace face- to- face communication? When using online
methods, essential aspects of communication such as hand gestures, voice tone, and facial
expressions are lost (Mullich). Research conducted by Professor Theodore Alter and
Bruce J. Balfour of the Pennsylvania State University showed that through the use of
online communication, the sense of trust between parties is greatly diminished, making it
extremely hard to build connections beyond the surface and establish credibility.
Interpersonal communication is an essential skill for any professional, and in a digital
world, these social skills are being weakened.
What does this paradigm shift mean for the future of communication and for the
future of our society? While there is already significant criticism towards Generation Y

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for having grown up in a digital world and not being up to par with the interpersonal
skills of those born prior, Generation Z and all of those beyond will have never known a
world without cell phones and computers. In the not so distant future, there will be few
people still alive who grew up communicating only the old-fashioned way. Research
suggests that the decrease in face-to-face interaction may have serious consequences for
development of social agility. This social shift may be problematic for the future
workforce and especially prominent leaders that may have trouble effectively and
confidently communicating their ideas. It is hard to tell what the future may look like for
the children of the next generation and how their family time may be conducted. It is
difficult to predict the implications that the lack of interpersonal communication may
have for romantic involvement. As far as the future is concerned, nothing is certain; yet
by analyzing the rapid shift toward digital communication, it does not look like there will
be a reversal back to the old ways.
While our society is quickly shifting towards a world ruled by technological
communication, it is important to remember that, like anything in life, moderation is key.
If we keep in the direction that we are headed, we may find our society in more trouble
down the road. It is important to for us to find a way to combine methods of
communication so that technology may complement or enhance the connections made
first through face-to-face interaction. The shift our society has made from face-to-face
communication to online communication is something that came about fairly quickly and
there is no doubt that the rate at which new devices emerge will begin to rise. New
methods of communication will continue to develop for the rest of time, and we will

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continue to shift far away from the old ways. Still, regardless of technological
advancements, nothing will ever be quite as sufficient as face-to-face communication.

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Works Cited
Alter, Theodore R., and Bruce J. Balfour. "Community Development Online: A Review
of Computer-Mediated Versus Face-to-Face Interactions, Commitment, and
Group Identity for Civic Engagement and Collaboration." The Pennsylvania State
University (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Drago, Emily. "The Effect of Technology on Face-to-Face Communication." The Elon
Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications 6.1 (2015): n. pag. Web.
28 Nov. 2015.
Mullich, Joe. "The New Face of Face-to-Face Meetings." The Wall Street Journal. Dow
Jones & Company, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Novak, Jill. "The Six Living Generations In America." Marketing Teacher. N.p., n.d.
Web. 28 Nov. 2015. <http://www.marketingteacher.com/the-six-living
generations-in-america/>.