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⬅️ Previous capture (2023-01-29)
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Digitally, we should talk asynchronously to each other more, via forums, blogs, e-mail and whatnot, in order to foster thought out discussion and to reduce the self-imposed urgency of needing to respond to messages.
Instant maskers are the most used type of messaging in the world, aside from the corporate world, which still mostly uses some kind of e-mail, although they have begun switching to proprietary IMs. Although with benefits like connecting instantly with the other person around the globe, they are not without disadvantages.
Features like read markers, typing notifications, notifications in general, online statuses and other anti-features serve to induce anxiety, so the user opens the program and corporate and friends benefit off your data. This has created a culture of needing to respond and expecting to be responded to instantly, getting frustrated if the other person reads your message and they don't respond or either if they respond late.
With asynchronous messaging, you're not forced to bear with the anxiety of read markers, respond times or any other so-called features. For example, when you send an e-mail, you expect the response in a couple of days, not minutes. It's the same case as sending snail mail.
Sure, IMs can be good in situations where you must talk to the other person instantaneous, like seeing if they got to a place or checking if there is an emergency. But most discussions can be improved if they're asynchronous. Besides, you can easily schedule a meeting in real life, or a call with the other person if you urgently need to catch up with them, there's no need for either typing notifications or read markers that facilitate anxiety. There is just plain talking with the other person.
The resurgence of asynchronous messaging could help us live in a slower, much less information bombarded world. It could help in diminishing disinformation, because it cannot spread as fast, which can be seen often happening on IMs and anti-social media. Besides, even in between friends, asynchronous messaging helps develop real conversational growth and adds value to both sides that take their time reading.