Communication

Articles examining how digital communication tools have changed the way we connect with others. Topics include the social impact of texting, email, social media and online communities.

Chat Rooms, Instant Messaging and Isolation

How online chat and instant messaging changed the way we connect, and what it means for human interaction.

Do We Really Talk Online?

Most of our online chatter is just noise—we're filling time and seeking company rather than having real conversations.

Does Social Networking Create a Community?

Social networking sites connect scattered friends globally, but do they actually build real community or just create networks of strangers online.

Has Email Replaced Letter Writing?

Email has largely replaced letter writing, but the two aren't the same thing—here's why the shift matters.

Is Blogging Communication or Diary?

Blogs blur the line between personal diary and public communication, serving everything from individual expression to corporate messaging.

Mobile Phones and Communication

How mobile phones went from briefcase-sized bricks to always-on devices that do everything except let us truly disconnect.

Texting and Spelling

How texting and character limits changed the way we spell and write English, creating a divide between traditional grammar and modern digital shortcuts.