From Hieroglyphics to GIFS: Communication Skills Have Not Changed, Just the Medium

I have always found communicating through code languages such as HTML, CSS, and JAVA, to be very difficult. However, is communicating via one of the code languages any different than communicating through the web? In many ways, the thought process is similar, but they are not entirely alike.

As a young woman who grew up as social media was experiencing its growth spurt, I understand how the usage of social media can make you feel like you are not communicating normally.

On Instagram, when you are scrolling through your feed, there are many decisions you must make regarding what you want to communicate through the app. If you want to communicate to your friend that you like their photo, you can physically “like” the photo. If you would like to reach out to an old friend, you can “direct message” them. You can also produce and share your own content on Instagram as well such as posts, reels, threads, stories, and lives.

The way we communicate online is through keystrokes and punching a screen with our thumbs. This is somewhat similar to communicating in CSS or HTML. When computer programming, you need to know which keys to hit in order to complete the code sentences. ON Instagram, you need to select the correct buttons in order to communicate the correct statement.

However, communicating through social media has some similarities to the way we interact with others in person. Our actions have consequences on the apps just like in person. What we say or post can be hurtful, and even considered bullying, only online, it is called cyberbullying. Additionally, if we produce false information online that could be confusing to the public or harm a person’s reputation, we could be committing defamation or lying.

There are other ways to communicate online that do not involve words. We can send GIFs and memes, post a TikTok video or photos, or share songs. We can also post graphics that can be used for marketing.

There are infinite ways to communicate online. This is viewed in a negative light among United States citizens constantly. In fact, 64 percent of American citizens believe social media has negatively affected their lives. The idea is that communicating through this “unknown medium” might strip us of our humanity and turn our communication into a robotic exchange of 1s and 0s, much like in computer science.

However, we communicate in an infinite amount of ways in person as well. As humans who have the gift of communication, we find ways to adapt our lines of communication to fit the needs of each of us. We invented sign language and subtitles in order to communicate with the deaf. Braille was invented in order to assist the blind. Morse Code has been used by our military and war correspondents to communicate across enemy lines in our military. If I had to think of forms of communication that mirror computer science’s 1s and 0s, I would think of Braille and Morse Code before I would think of the posts I “liked” today.

Really, communicating through social media is no different than any other form of communication that has developed through the evolution of our society. Hieroglyphs emulate our communication waves on social media more than other languages, in fact. We communicate through imagery and phrases online, similar to hieroglyphics. However, images are essential to every form of communication, whether it be reading lips or sign language for the deaf, or merely talking with your hands to emphasize your point. I do this quite often.

So, if social media is not so different from every other form of communication, perhaps it is just different than what we are used to, not necessarily bad. It is not a foreign concept to us to dislike a form of communication or language. Our freedom of speech protects each form of communication that we use, and this includes hate speech, curse words, and protesting. While a person’s opinion may be different from yours, they have the right to communicate theirs. This has been a historical issue as well. During World War II, Jews were not allowed to speak in Hebrew or practice Judaism for the fear of being executed. We have been trying to restrict speech for centuries, and the push against social media is no different. It is merely another medium for communication that comes with the same caveats, the need to watch what we say, accept consequences for our actions, and use extra imagery to prove our point.