There is little doubt we live in a world where virtual communication is becoming unavoidable. Sped along by the coronavirus pandemic, it is now the preferred form of communication for many people. Corporations like Meta—previously known as Facebook—have bet a significant part of their future on living in an entirely virtual world (welcome to the metaverse). Whether it is school, telemedicine, social interactions, or business, millions of people around the world have abandoned in-person interactions in favor of virtual meetings. Now that it is happening, we have to ask the question: Are these online connections good for us? Let’s explore the pros and cons of virtual communication.

Advantages of Virtual Communication

Convenience

The convenience of online communication can’t be beat. You can do it from almost anywhere at any time. And you can literally roll out of bed and be ready to talk. You don’t even need to wear pants if you don’t want to. What’s more, you don’t have to deal with traffic or a public transportation schedule. The time you save in travel alone allows makes it incredibly practical.

Cost

As they say, “time is money”. Virtual correspondence allows you to spend your commute time taking care of other items on your to-do list. And with the price of travel these days, any excuse to avoid driving or taking public transportation is welcomed. For businesses, videoconferencing is a financial boon. Companies can save thousands of dollars on overhead and travel expenses. If cost is the only factor, the virtual world is your best bet.

Inclusiveness

Nothing is better than when a group of friends gets together for a few hours. But what about that guy who lives six hours away? One of the strengths of living in an online world is that everyone can be included. Whether it is a work call with colleagues in another country or a family member who lives in Alaska, videoconferencing software has made it possible to talk with people that don’t live in the same place. I mean, how great is it to be able to interact with people regularly that you would normally never see? Pretty great.

Staying in Touch

As a result of all this inclusiveness and convenience, it is a lot easier to keep in touch with people than ever before. Sure, you can always call them on the phone but seeing someone is a much richer experience. You can’t help but feel closer to someone when you see them compared to just hearing their voice. Besides, young people don’t like to talk on the phone anymore. If it isn’t a video call or a text they aren’t interested. Virtual communication is by far the easiest way to stay in contact with those important people in your life.

Disadvantages of Virtual Communication

Body Language

One of the major disadvantages of virtual communication is the lack of body language. Usually, in a video call, you can only see the person’s face and shoulders. You have no idea what they are doing with the rest of their body. And when you can’t see body language you lose a major form of communication. Are they wringing their hands? Is their knee bouncing up and down? Non-verbal cues provide us with a lot of information. Text and video just don’t cut it.

Distraction

I admit it, I’ve looked at messages and e-mail while I was on a video call. It is hard to not get distracted by something when using virtual communication. It might be your cat or your child or that notification that keeps popping up on your cell phone. In any case, it is difficult to fully give your attention when there are so many possible interruptions. This is one reason that some businesses balk at remote work. They know that your concentration is likely divided. Distraction is also a big reason that most therapists dislike teletherapy when compared with in-person sessions. Therapists understand that clients are not as focused on the important issues that need to be addressed.

Lack of Connection

A video call is definitely better than a phone call but it can’t compare to an in-person interaction. I have previously talked about the importance of human connection. Being with a person is an experience that can’t be duplicated. Whether it is their touch, smell, or subtle movements, certain aspects of interaction can’t be found online. Virtual communication is infinitely better than no connection at all but it is a poor substitute for the intimacy that occurs when you meet someone in person.

Virtual Communication Technology Problems

Have you ever been in the middle of a video call and the person with whom you are talking freezes? It has probably happened to all of us. As great as technology can be, it is not immune to glitches. And sometimes, technology fails us in important situations. It can put you in a very poor position. What do you do when you are in a crucial work meeting or a tough therapy session and you lose your connection? As great as technology can be, it does have some extreme downsides.

What To Do in the Virtual World?

It is increasingly difficult to escape virtual communication. It is everywhere you look and the preferred way to talk for many people, especially our youth. Regrettably, online interactions lack the level of intimacy and connection of in-person contact. So, what are we to do? As with almost everything in life we need to establish a balance. Don’t try to escape it entirely; you probably couldn’t if you tried. Instead, pick your moments to see people in person. Despite what Zoom might want you to believe, it is still crucial to go out and do things with friends and family. You don’t make memories from virtual communication. Have you ever seen a selfie of a video call? Is your photo album full of pics of you text messaging? Nothing will replace in-person encounters, no matter how lifelike virtual reality becomes. Fortunately, It is possible to both embrace technology and keep up real connections. A little trial and error will show you the way.