Chapter . Navigating the Digital Landscape

The immediacy factor of interpersonal communication has increased, emphasizing both expectations for fast responses and the ability to locate someone without delay. Children and young teens see the “need” for their own smartphones to connect, not only with parents and other adults, but with their peers.

Many people are abandoning landlines and their attendant answering machines, de-emphasizing that immediacy and their eventual usefulness. Of course, there are downsides of smartphone use -- harassing individuals or simply excluding them from the interpersonal communication connections of others.

Looking at the current usage rates, it is most likely that YouTube will stand the test of time. That may very well be the case since it is so visual, and human perception craves visual and animated stimulation. Another reason may be that YouTube has been responsive to users’ preferences and desires for quick and accurate searches. LinkedIn would be a second choice since it is so focused on professional networks, and increasingly dedicated to job recruitment and placement.

Linkedin is focused on professional networks, job searching, and sharing general career-related content. Choosing Linkedin may mean that you see communication practicality as a good predictor of longevity. YouTube is a more general platform that gives users a sense that they can come and go as they please without some of the obligatory chatting and responding expected by other users. Furthermore, YouTube is a less “niche” platform appealing to a wider audience and can be used for virtually anything. Choosing YouTube may mean that you’re more visual in your communication style and prefer less interaction than the other apps require.

Anonymity often emboldens people to say hostile or inappropriate things that they would never say to someone else face-to-face. Some online platforms allow for more anonymity than others (Twitter and Reddit both allow people to post under a pseudonym or created persona), so it is important to recognize how the different platforms operate as well as learn the “culture” (the norms and practices) of these environments before you participate in them.

Change your social media privacy settings to be sure only those people you know and trust can interact with you online. Change your identity or account on platforms like Facebook or Instagram to something other than your full name, so that a harasser cannot as easily find you in an online search. If people you know personally are the ones harassing you, unfollow/block them and encourage your good friends to do so similarly. It is also a good idea to “take a break” for a while from social media completely. Keep in touch with people in your close support network via old fashioned phone calls and text messages. Delete social media apps from your phone in particular, so that you are not tempted to check and recheck.

Do not make it easy for cyber criminals or potential harassers to get your personal information. Manage your social media privacy settings; avoid sending private information over public wifi connections; use passwords that cannot be guessed at by what you have posted on social media; be suspicious of emails that ask you to reply with your personal information. As a general rule, it is wise not to post any information about yourself online that you don’t want the whole world to know! If you are wary of marketers and political campaigns using data from your online behavior (clicks, views, etc.) to personalize your online experience, you can use a search engine that does not track you, such as Duck Duck Go. Getting a VPN is also a great way to keep your IP address hidden from potential threats online.

I would follow the lead of major tech industry publications like Wired and Fast Company who overtly include coverage of women and people of color and celebrate their many successes. The long-game in changing these perceptions is for leaders in the tech industry to enforce rigorous equitable hiring and job promotion practices and publicly and privately enforce harassment regulations.