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Technology is changing the way people communicate. The use of texting, video chat, and social media platforms enables people around the world to communicate at the speed of light, creating a shift from verbal communication to visual.

Gen Z grew up with technology and learned how to communicate through a screen. However, this could hinder the generation’s social skills in verbal communication. 

Senior Cierra Velzis agrees that generation Z is more socially awkward due to the amount of communication done on phones. 

Velzis believes that “because you don’t have social interaction, you don’t know how to react when certain things come up.” 

Communicating digitally saves people from having to confront awkward situations. When you’ve never been taught how or had enough practice, simple expressions like sincerity can be difficult to express in person.

Apologizing can also feel awkward and emotionally draining. It is easy to replace empathizing or emotion with emojis or avoid awkward eye contact by looking at each other’s ceilings on facetime. 

According to Eugene therapy, which provides online video telehealth, you can break down apologizing in 5 simple steps. 

1. Be sincere and honest
2. Express regret and remorse
3. Offer an explanation but no excuses
4. Make a plan for change in the future
5. Request forgiveness from the other person

With any relationship, there are going to be multiple situations in which serious or hard conversations arise. Talking in person helps more parties to empathize and eliminates any chance of miscommunication.

“I feel like problems within a relationship or if something they did affected you and you’re not okay with that then that’s probably something that needs to be talked about in person rather than over text,” said Velzis.

Humans are social animals and social interaction is important for our mental health and for building meaningful relationships. 

Charles Ashworth, the Chief People Officer at Copper CRM, Inc, wrote in his Forbes article  Are We Losing The Human Connection? “It is imperative for our mental health to have a true connection with other humans, intimate conversations with eye contact and touch, an empathetic heart in the presence of others, and open ears when asking someone about their well-being both in and out of their professional lives.” 

Technology is creating a new outlet of communication that may be more convenient, but doesn’t provide the same depth that you can only get from real human interaction and some relationships and mental health are struggling because of it.