You have right to not be disturbed in the digital age!

Can someone send a message just because they know the phone number?

Many countries recognize the "right to disconnect"!

Digital technologies have brought unlimited ease of access into our lives. Being accessible at anytime and anywhere through smartphones and instant messaging applications has now become the norm. However, the negative effects of this situation on individuals are increasingly felt.

Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay evaluates the effects of the "always being accessible" state brought about by the digital age on individuals' private lives, psychological states, and work-life balance, and Atalay stated that "Receiving work-related calls, emails, or messages after working hours can interrupt the right to rest. When individuals are required to handle work-related messages or emails during their rest time, this can lead to burnout syndrome over time."

Noting that the "right to disconnect" has been widely discussed in recent years due to these issues, and that many countries have created regulations to grant this right, Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay expressed that "It is not right to contact someone at any time just because we know their phone number."

Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay, Head of the New Media and Communication Department at Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Communication, evaluated the effects of the "always being accessible" state brought by the digital age on individuals' private lives, psychological conditions, and work-life balance.

It leads to burnout syndrome!

Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay stated that mobile technologies and smartphones allow for constant communication and expressed that "We are accessible anytime, anywhere, either by calling or through email or instant messaging applications. However, this situation does not always yield positive results. Especially in professional life, being constantly accessible can turn into a pressure factor. Receiving work-related calls, emails, or messages after working hours can interrupt the right to rest. When individuals need to deal with messages or emails related to work during their rest time, this eventually leads to burnout syndrome. In recent years, due to these problems, the 'right to disconnect' has been widely discussed. Many countries have created regulations to grant this right."

It negatively affects private life

Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay also pointed out that the constant state of being accessible due to mobile phones and instant messaging applications can negatively affect private life. "The separation between professional life and private life becomes blurred. Being constantly exposed to communication about work during time allocated for personal life can be a source of stress."

Is it impossible to spend a day without checking messages?

Stating that WhatsApp and similar instant messaging applications are used intensely both in professional and personal life, Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay said that "We are all members of many different groups, which creates a constant flow and constant alerts. This can inevitably be distracting, time-consuming, and sometimes even annoying. Although it is possible to reduce this discomfort by turning off notifications, this creates a fear of missing out (FOMO). Due to the anxiety of missing something, it has become almost impossible to go through the day without checking these messaging applications for long periods. Therefore, users feel pressure to constantly check their messages. Responding to incoming messages can also become another source of pressure."

Work hours should not be exceeded unless it is an emergency

Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay noted that there are also etiquette rules in the digital world, and these are called "netiquette." Atalay stated that "There are etiquette rules for using digital technologies and applications like WhatsApp that make us constantly accessible. It is not right to contact someone at any time just because we know their phone number. In close relationships, of course, these technologies allow us to stay in touch at all times, which is an advantage. However, if we are sending messages to someone we are not close to for work or other reasons, it would be a more conscious choice not to exceed work hours unless it is an urgent situation."

Unrelated sharing should not be made

Emphasizing that it is more appropriate not to send messages to colleagues outside of working hours, Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay stated that "If communication is necessary outside of working hours, it is important to politely ask if the other party is available. If there is an urgent situation, of course, it is possible to quickly reach the other person through these technologies; however, the urgency here must be an urgency that both parties agree upon. We are not talking about the sender's impatience or individual work-related urgency. Additionally, making unrelated posts in workplace WhatsApp groups, engaging in private conversations, making unnecessary jokes, and sending inappropriate messages are considered boundary violations."

Immediate response for the messages sent should not be expected

Pointing out that digital communication with family members should be maintained in a way that avoids violating sleep or rest hours depending on the closeness of the relationship, Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay said that "Everyone may have a different daily rhythm. When communicating with colleagues and family members through digital platforms, it is important not to expect an immediate response for the messages that were sent. The other party may be busy, so it is important to be patient. If a quick response is needed, it should be politely indicated."

'Out-of-Office Communication Policy' can be adopted

Assoc. Prof. Gül Esra Atalay stated that as societies' experience with the use of digital technologies increases, the rules will become more widely learned and adopted, and concluded her remarks as follows:

"The behavioral rules that guide digital communication, namely netiquette, need to be brought up frequently. Institutions can conduct informational activities regarding digital communication for their employees and establish specific digital communication rules for the institution. Policies can be created that specify which platforms will be used for which situations and that employees are not obligated to respond to messages sent outside working hours. For example, an 'out-of-office communication policy' can be adopted. Especially those in managerial positions can set an example by avoiding sending messages outside work hours and respecting boundaries. Individuals can set clear boundaries and set an example by respecting the boundaries of others. Employees and individuals can mute their digital devices during certain hours or use the 'do not disturb' mode to maintain a healthy work-life balance. In this way, it may be possible to establish a healthy digital culture."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)