Authenticity and Conversation Online Literature & Language Essay

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Authenticity and Conversation Online
Introduction
Technology has disrupted almost every activity at the core of human existence, including research, healthcare, marketing, banking, and communication. The development in these areas as a result of technological advancement can be described as path-breaking. It would be unfair not to acknowledge the negative social impact that the technology brought about, specifically its influence on how people interact with workmates, friends, and even family. With the emergence of various social media platforms, the impact on the face to face communication and interaction has been drastic, with most people becoming too attached to their digital devices rather than the actual human being (Turkle, Alone Together). The social media platform has made it easier for people to connect by providing avenues that would otherwise not be available. However, the use of technology has put actual human connection under threat and the effort needed to have an actual conversation has been greatly reduced. This has raised the question of whether technology fosters human conversation or it is just an enabler for connection.
Connection and conversation are two terms that are often used interchangeably yet they have completely different meanings. However, the two often exhibit a mutual relationship where one does not exist without the other. As observed by Turkle in The Flight from Conversation, the connection made possible with the intervention of social networks does not in any way match the kind of conversation that humans would have face to face (p. 1). Turkle further argues that the social network platforms present humans with techniques that allow them to portray the perfect self (p. 2), raising further concerns on the authenticity of online connection. The kind of conversation that takes place via the online platform is nothing close to that of a face to face interaction, given the fact that other factors such as emotions, facial expression, and other non-verbal cues have not been factored in with the online platforms.
The emergence of the novel coronavirus, COVID 19 has greatly impacted how people interact with one another, forcing the entire world to be accustomed to the idea of social distancing and working from home. Remote working has had an impact on the human way of life, both negatively and positively. COVID 19 pandemic has fueled the transition from face to face conversation to online connection with the widespread adoption of online communication platforms and remote working.
Impacts of Remote Working
Social distancing is one of the effective ways of managing the spread of coronavirus and most organizations have urged their employees to work from home. This has led to extensive use of various digital platforms that enable employees to carry out tasks that would otherwise require an office setup to accomplish in the comfort of their homes. The work from home initiative has eliminated the need for people to commute to their workplaces. Plenty of meaningful conversations are common among people on board the same means of transport to their workplaces. Also, one is most likely to pump into a colleague in corridors at the workplace and start a fruitful conversation unlike working remotely. The work from home order in the fight against COVID 19 deprives employees of these opportunities.
A physical workplace provides an opportunity for workmates to socialize and engage in casual conversations during free times and lunch hours, which is essential for strong bonding. With remote working, lunch hours become a bit boring and lonely, with one having a digital device as the only option for a companion. Also, digital commutation has a limitation of synchronicity. Unlike face to face meetings, online communication is prone to delays and inconveniences because members might not be able to turn up at the same time. Furthermore, reliance on the internet might pose a challenge in a case where there is unstable internet connectivity.
Another important aspect that has not been addressed with the adoption of online communication has to do with the way people present themselves. Other than the ordinary presentation requirement for formal communication, online communication demands addition presentation skills, which sometimes prove to be a challenge to many. To keep eye contact, for instance, the audience or the presenter is required to maintain direct contact with the camera. This is not normally the case with most people tending to gawk at themselves. A fru...