Nonverbal communication in a social media world

Has social media and the Internet eliminated the need for — and importance of — nonverbal communication?  When you think about it, there are three ways to communicate:

• Words. The words we use,  particularly verbs, communicate our intent. “He kicked the door into splinters while using his shoulder as a ramrod to smash his way to freedom” is much more powerful than the wishy-washy “He kicked in the door and then pushed his way out.”

• Pictures. It’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words — the photo of a new-born baby or of a wide receiver catching a football in the end zone for a winning score will always trump words.

• Actions. We understand that kicking in the door sends a clear meaning.  But how, when commenting on a blog, or sending an email or text message, do we capture the all-important nonverbal communication such as facial expressions or gestures that convey so much more meaning than a written word or static photo?  Social media, particularly the 140-word limit on Twitter, has spawned a whole new language of abbreviations.  But LOL (laugh out loud) will never convey the same delicious joy as seeing someone bent over in laughter.  TTYL (talk to you later) means what is says.  But it cannot capture the sorrow of someone who says it while waving goodbye to a loved one.

Have we lost the need for the nuances of nonverbal communication?  Would love to know what you think and if it even matters.

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5. Business Communication Through Words, Pictures and Actions