#digital-communication

#digital-communication

A simple mindful practice that can slow down emotional reaction, invite a breath, and encourage you to pause before you post. Social media has made it easy to broadcast our thoughts and feelings far and wide in an instant. At the same time, we often don't even consider the huge numbers of people who will read what we share. How many friends do you have across your socials? 300 to 400? 500 plus? How often do you really pause before you post?

Over the past two decades, I've watched workplace communication transform from primarily face-to-face interactions to increasingly digital exchanges. What began as a gradual shift accelerated dramatically in recent years, leaving organizations to navigate unfamiliar territory. The hybrid workplace-where employees divide time between remote and in-office work-has evolved from a temporary adaptation to an enduring reality. This transformation fundamentally changes how teams connect, collaborate and create value together.

The modern internet is a hostile environment full of spies, miscreants and narcs, prompting savvy users to protect themselves with coded language.

I described the sinking dread after social effort, the sense of being too visible. At astonishing speed, the AI responded gently, intelligently, without platitudes.

Labour MP Mark Sewards has created an AI version of himself to engage constituents, aiming to enhance communication and service availability. However, concerns arise about potential disconnect.

"Her phone buzzes-no bars. Wi-Fi icon: dead. The protest footage from last night sits trapped in her device like a caged bird with clipped wings. She filmed everything: the tear gas clearing, protesters linking arms, riot shields retreating."

Digital communications today are fast, unchecked, and silently monitored. Most conversations are overheard by corporations or the State as data becomes the new oil.

People can sniff out a generic message from a mile away, and nobody wants to feel like just another box on your to-do list.

The Independent is guided by the belief that quality journalism should be available to everyone, funded by those who can afford it, without paywalls.

The "Dead Internet Theory" suggests that much of online activity is dominated by bots and algorithms rather than humans, raising concerns about authenticity and manipulation.

The boundaries between reception and response have collapsed. Digital whiplash has branded itself on to my cheek. My psychological tabs are maxed out, and there's no alert to clear storage or update my internal OS.

"As we create product, marketing, or branding content, how can we ensure it feels authentic and human? Let's look at LinkedIn content feed in this article and explore design solutions."

Typos happen in our digital life; with so much writing done on various platforms, mistakes are inevitable, but it’s important to own them and move on.

"I have noticed an increase in emotional affairs coming through the door. Not only do I notice an increase in numbers, but I notice a deeper sense of hurt being expressed."