Communication Specialist Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that written messaging is by far preferred over video and voice calls, especially among younger generations, saying, “The reason for this is not only practicality but also the sense of control provided by written communication. A message offers a control area over both time and expression; the person determines when to respond, what tone to use, and how open to be.”
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal, stating that the intensification of written communication in digital environments has both simplified and accelerated the language, said, “This speed led to the widespread use of abbreviations, sound imitations, and hybrid languages. For example, the fluid use of ‘nbr’, ‘slm’, ‘ok’ or English words within Turkish sentences indicates the formation of a new ‘digital dialect.’”
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal from the Department of New Media and Communication (English), Faculty of Communication, Üsküdar Üniversitesi, evaluated the changing language of communication.
A culture of 'being reachable at all times' has emerged
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that messaging applications have transformed the nature of daily interaction by freeing communication from its temporal and spatial boundaries, saying, “Communication is no longer an action tied to a specific time frame or place; it has become an intermittent but continuous flow. This situation has given rise to a culture of 'being reachable at all times' in both personal and public relationships.”
Language reunited with gestures
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that the speed and daily nature of written communication have also transformed language use, saying, “It led to the redefinition of grammar, punctuation, and even word choice in more emotional, gestural, and visual forms. Emojis, GIFs, voice notes, or reaction buttons have partially taken the place of written words, creating a hybrid form where language reunites with gestures.”
Additionally, Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that messaging applications have blurred the line between public and private, saying, “Personal chats, business correspondence, political discussions, or emotional sharing intertwine within the same interface. This transforms an individual's way of representing themselves, their tone, and even their silence into a meaningful communication gesture in digital environments.”
Written messaging is by far preferred among young people
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal reminded that research also supports this trend, stating, “In a 2011 study on university students in the US, 60 percent of participants said they preferred written messaging over calls; moreover, this figure increased by 53 percent compared to a year earlier at that time. More recently, a 2020 study on undergraduate students aged 17 to 36 at a university in Pakistan yielded similar results, with 83 percent of communication within this group being carried out through written messages. Written messaging is by far preferred over video and voice calls, especially among younger generations. The reason for this is not only practicality but also the sense of control provided by written communication. A message offers a control area over both time and expression; the person determines when to respond, what tone to use, and how open to be.”
Written messaging acts as a kind of digital buffer
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal explained that while video or voice calls may be more direct and intimate, they can also be perceived as more “invasive,” stating, “Written messaging, on the other hand, acts as a kind of digital buffer; even distance, silence, or delay transforms into a way of producing meaning. Especially in the post-pandemic period, written messaging has become a 'default' channel in both individual and professional communication. In short, written messaging is no longer just a form of communication, but a practice of thinking, feeling, and establishing distance.”
Written communication has become the control area of modern humans
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal noted that written communication has become a form that responds to modern humans' need for both speed and control, stating, “Face-to-face or voice communication requires directness and openness; whereas correspondence puts a distance between what is intended to be said and what can be said. This distance sometimes serves as an emotional buffer and sometimes as a boundary protecting the subject. Furthermore, written messaging is one of the most functional tools of the age of multiple presences. People can be on multiple communication channels simultaneously, postpone response times, and even turn silence into a strategy. This shifts the nature of communication from 'instant reaction' to 'controlled expression.' In short, preferring correspondence is not only convenience but also a way for the modern individual to protect their privacy and emotional rhythm.”
Digital communication has changed the way emotions are conveyed
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that digital communication has both expanded and transformed the way emotions are conveyed, saying, “Traditional indicators such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language have now been replaced by emojis, GIFs, 'read' receipts, and even online status. These elements form the new semiotic repertoire of digital affect. However, this transformation both intensifies and superficializes the transmission of emotions. A 'heart' emoji can sometimes easily convey an unspoken feeling; but at the same time, it can shorten emotional labor, that is, the intimacy built with words. Therefore, while the digital environment accelerates the circulation of emotions, it temporally compresses their depth.”
A new form of intimacy in digital culture
Pointing to the concept of “intimacy” in communication, Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal said, “If we associate intimacy with physical proximity, eye contact, and spontaneous reactions, correspondence reduces this kind of directness. However, in digital culture, intimacy is no longer measured solely by physical presence. Written messages, delayed responses, and even silences can become part of the emotional bond. Messaging allows an individual to regulate and express their own emotions; meaning the form of intimacy changes, but it does not completely disappear. Therefore, communicating through correspondence, rather than diminishing intimacy, carries it to another temporality and expression regime. Intimacy is no longer produced in the face-to-face ‘moment,’ but in the rhythm of an ongoing correspondence between screens.”
Digital gestures have become a new language of emotion
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal noted that emojis, GIFs, stickers, and voice notes can be read as the gestural language of the digital age, stating, “These tools embody the abstraction of writing; they re-concretize emotions in visual and auditory forms. An emoji, a GIF, a voice note, a short edited video; can carry as much meaning as a breath or hesitation. Thus, on digital platforms, language becomes a multilayered fabric composed not only of mere words but also of images, reactions, and micro-behaviors. This new language is neither entirely universal nor entirely individual; it varies according to cultural context, group dynamics, and platform norms. But it is clear to say that in digital communication, emotions are now expressed not only with words but with rhythm, memes, visuals, short edited videos, and reactions to shares.”
Young people tend to redefine communication
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that the tendency to avoid voice or face-to-face communication is becoming increasingly visible, especially among younger generations, and continued as follows:
“However, this ‘avoidance’ does not mean withdrawal from communication; it should rather be interpreted as a quest to redefine the form of communication. Young people often see written messaging as a safer space. This sense of security stems from the ability to control both time and emotional distance. Corresponding eliminates the ‘pressure to respond instantly’; individuals can think before speaking. This becomes a kind of defense mechanism for the subject of digital culture. Furthermore, the performative pressure created by social media and constant visibility distances many young people from spontaneous verbal communication. In short, the behavior of avoiding speaking emerges less as an unwillingness to communicate and more as a way to manage vulnerability in communication.”
Written communication accelerated language
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal, stating that the intensification of written communication in digital environments has both simplified and accelerated the language, said, “This speed led to the widespread use of abbreviations, sound imitations, and hybrid languages. For example, the fluid use of ‘nbr’, ‘slm’, ‘ok’ or English words within Turkish sentences indicates the formation of a new ‘digital dialect.’ However, this change should not be read solely as degradation. Language always adapts to the technological environment it inhabits. Digital correspondence, much like gestures in oral culture, responds to the need to quickly produce and share meaning. Even spelling errors sometimes become a conscious stylistic choice; for example, the use of lowercase letters or lack of punctuation can be an indicator of intimacy or emotional tone. Therefore, the change in digital language should not be considered a ‘deterioration’ but a sign of a new economy of expression.”
Written communication provides a second space for thinking
Dr. Lecturer Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal noted that written communication provides individuals with a second space for thinking, stating, “This leads the subject to express themselves in digital environments in a more conscious and fictionalized manner. In contrast, speaking is a form of expression accompanied by instant reactions and the body; thus, it also brings a certain vulnerability and openness. The transformation seen in literacy forms in the digital communication age also affects forms of subjectivation. Humans have now become not only speaking or writing beings but beings living with notifications. Messaging applications determine the rhythm of emotions, relationships, and even silences. Even the phrase ‘Typing...’ has become an indicator loaded with intense meanings. Such micro-indicators have become the new pulse of modern relationships. Therefore, the issue is not only the changing forms of communication but also the transformation of the subject's experience of time, space, and self.” she concluded.