Good communication is an important skill that I'm working on. My mom reminds me that there is room for improvement. How do I get better at this skill though? For teens, text messaging and social media are the vehicles for conversation. A quick message or scrolling Instagram is how I get all my information for weekend plans, including events happening around school. Posts on what's happening and who is hanging out with who are pretty typical for teenagers.
From those around me, I've learned to pause before I post and that not everything that I think should actually come out of my mouth. Everyone needs to be considerate on social media and think carefully before posting anything. Seeing something through a screen and in person are two very different things. The printed word hits harder than having a conversation with someone face to face.
Take for example, SnapChat. It's the universal communication tool for teens. It involves very little personal interaction. Sometimes, what we say on SnapChat isn't just between friends. What we say can get "snapped" out to a whole community because one person chooses to share a message that wasn't meant to be shared. Not knowing who is reading your written words and not being able to trust that your message is delivered to the one person it was meant for, warrants better control over our messaging and an edit button. Feelings can get hurt, friendships can feel strained, and people can be embarrassed because of thoughtless snapping.
Sometimes we react instantly and say the things we wouldn't want said to us. Sometimes we hurt others in what we say or worse, what we forget to say. The focus isn't quality communication but speed, convenience and an emphasis on the best opportunity rather than sincere interaction.
Teenagers don't talk to one another as much as they snap or message. Maybe if we spent more time having face-to-face conversations, it would be easier to make new connections. It might help avoid the drama of figuring out homecoming or the challenge of navigating social plans if we just picked up the phone and had conversation or talked in person. With an emphasis on creating the perfect post or snap story, I think we lose sight of what's important and how to deal with disappointment, how to talk to others and how to appreciate special moments. You know - the real stuff that makes conversation interesting. Communication skills are important and a reminder to all of us to edit, have grace and maybe try leaning in for a chat.
- Milan Bansal, a freshman at Hinsdale Central, is a contributing columnist. Readers can email him at [email protected].
