The 21st century can be described as one employing a major societal change. The shift can be attributed to the technological advancements that have generated various trends, innovations, and revolutions. One revolutionary change is the use of social media, which shapes how people communicate, interact, and live their lives. It has been a concern that individuals tend to prefer online spaces to real-life communication. Thus, it is essential not to underestimate both the significance of online spaces in people’s lives as well as the overall revolution in human interaction.
The work that best suits the phenomenon is the neologism “onlife”. The combination of the world “online” and “life” describe the phenomenon in which an individual lives their lives online. Namely, their friends, experiences, and knowledge are all connected to their online activity. The term can be applied in a sentence the following way: “My onlife is much more exciting than my real life”. According to Garber, neologisms are constructed to fit specific circumstances correlating with the present (2003). Thus, “onlife” is a testament to future generations in regard to how humanity has converted to an online way of life.
Another change that has been generated as a result of technological advancements is verbal communication. Namely, people prefer sending texts and messages, while calls have become secondary channels of interaction. Making appointments online, texting friends, and Googling instead of asking teachers questions are the things that have replaced verbal communication. Moreover, talking has become something more intimate as it requires prompt ideas to be voiced without the person having time to think about a statement or redact it later.
The term “verbaphobic” is a description of the phenomenon in which a person avoids verbal communication and prefers written one. An example of a sentence can be, “I am such a verbaphobic that I had to find a salon that accepts online appointments”. The word is a combination of the term “verbal” and the adjective “phobic,” which exemplifies fear. Future generations can benefit from knowing the word and its origins as it is an illustration of the changing communication channels.
References
Garber, M. (2003). Academic Instincts. Princeton University Press.