Written messaging has become the dominant mode of communication, especially among younger generations, surpassing both video and voice calls. Communication expert Asst. Prof. Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal explained, “The reason is not only practicality but also the sense of control written communication provides. A message offers control over both timing and expression. The sender decides when to respond, what tone to use, and how transparent to be.”
Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal from Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Communication, Department of New Media and Communication (English), analyzed the evolving language of communication. She noted that the concentration of written communication in digital environments has simplified and accelerated language use. “This speed has led to the rise of abbreviations, sound imitations, and hybrid languages,” she said. “For example, the use of ‘nbr,’ ‘slm,’ ‘ok,’ or English words smoothly integrated into Turkish sentences shows that a new ‘digital dialect’ has emerged.”
Asst. Prof. Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal from Üsküdar University, Faculty of Communication, Department of New Media and Communication (English), shared her insights on the changing language of communication.
A culture of constant availability
According to Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal, messaging applications have removed the temporal and spatial limits of communication, transforming the nature of daily interactions. “Communication is no longer an activity tied to a specific time or place; it has become a fragmented yet continuous flow. This has created a culture of being ‘constantly reachable’ in both personal and public relationships,” she said.
Language reunited with gestures
The fast-paced and casual nature of written communication has also reshaped language itself. “Grammar, punctuation, and even word choice have been redefined in more emotional, gestural, and visual forms,” Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated. “Emojis, GIFs, voice notes, and reaction buttons have partially replaced written words, creating a hybrid form where language reunites with gesture.”
She also pointed out that messaging apps have blurred the line between the public and private spheres. “Personal conversations, work correspondence, political debates, and emotional exchanges now coexist within the same interface. This turns even a person’s tone, timing, or silence into meaningful communicative gestures in digital spaces,” she said.
Written messaging clearly leads among youth
Citing research that supports this trend, Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal noted, “In a 2011 study conducted among university students in the United States, 60 percent of participants said they preferred texting over calling, which is a 53 percent increase from the previous year. Similarly, a 2020 study conducted at a Pakistani university among undergraduate students aged 17 to 36 found that 83 percent of communication within this group occurred through text messages. Written messaging, particularly among younger generations, is overwhelmingly favored over video or voice calls. The reason is not merely convenience but the sense of control that written communication offer, and it allows individuals to manage when and how they respond and how much of themselves they wish to reveal.”
Text messaging serves as a digital buffer
Although video and voice calls can be more direct and intimate, they may also be perceived as more “intrusive,” said Asst. Prof. Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal. “Text messaging, on the other hand, serves as a kind of digital buffer; even distance, silence, or delay becomes a means of creating meaning. Especially in the post-pandemic era, written messaging has become a kind of ‘default’ channel in both personal and professional communication. In short, texting is no longer just a form of communication but also a practice of thinking, feeling, and setting boundaries.”
Written communication as a space of control
Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal explained that written communication has become a form that meets modern people’s need for both speed and control. “Face-to-face or voice communication requires directness and openness, whereas texting creates a space between what one wants to say and what one can say. This distance can act as an emotional buffer or as a boundary that protects the individual. Moreover, written messaging is one of the most functional tools of the era of multiple presences. People can engage in multiple conversations simultaneously, delay responses, or even turn silence into a strategy. This shifts the nature of communication from ‘instant reaction’ to ‘controlled expression.’ In short, choosing to text is not merely a matter of convenience; it is also a way for modern individuals to protect their privacy and emotional rhythm,” she said.
Digital communication has transformed emotional expression
Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal emphasized that digital communication has both expanded and transformed the ways emotions are conveyed. “Traditional cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language have been replaced by emojis, GIFs, read receipts, and even online status indicators. These elements form the new semiotic repertoire of digital emotion. However, this transformation both intensifies and flattens emotional expression. A heart emoji, for instance, can easily convey an unspoken feeling, but it can also reduce emotional labor, that is, the closeness built through words. Thus, while digital platforms accelerate the circulation of emotions, they compress their depth in time.”
A new form of intimacy in digital culture
Touching on the concept of “intimacy” in communication, Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal said, “If we associate intimacy with physical proximity, eye contact, and spontaneous reaction, texting reduces this kind of directness. However, in digital culture, intimacy is no longer measured solely by physical presence. Written messages, delayed replies, and even silences can become part of an emotional bond. Messaging allows individuals to regulate and express their emotions; therefore, the form of intimacy changes but does not disappear. Communicating through text doesn’t diminish intimacy, and it moves it to a different temporality and mode of expression. Intimacy is now produced not in face-to-face moments but in the rhythm of an ongoing exchange across screens.”
Digital gestures as a new language of emotion
Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal also noted that emojis, GIFs, stickers, and voice notes can be seen as the gestural language of the digital age. “These tools make the abstract nature of writing more embodied; they re-materialize emotions in visual and auditory forms. An emoji, a GIF, a voice note, or an edited short video can carry as much meaning as a breath or a hesitation. Thus, on digital platforms, language has evolved into a multi-layered texture made up not only of words but also of images, reactions, and micro-behaviors. This new language is neither entirely universal nor entirely individual, and it varies according to cultural context, group dynamics, and platform norms. But one thing is clear: in digital communication, emotions are now expressed not only through words but also through rhythm, memes, visuals, short edited videos, and interactive reactions.”
Young people tend to redefine communication
Asst. Prof. Öznur Karakaş Kırmızısakal stated that the tendency among younger generations to avoid voice or face-to-face conversations has become increasingly visible. She explained: “However, this ‘avoidance’ should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from communication, but rather as an attempt to redefine how communication happens. Young people often perceive written messaging as a safer space. This sense of safety stems from the ability to control both time and emotional distance. Texting eliminates the pressure of ‘instant response,’ allowing individuals to think before they speak. For the digital generation, this has become a kind of defense mechanism. Moreover, the performative pressure created by social media and the state of constant visibility drives many young people away from spontaneous verbal interaction. In short, avoiding speech is not a sign of unwillingness to communicate, but a way of managing vulnerability within communication.”
Written communication has accelerated language
Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal noted that the concentration of written communication in digital environments has both simplified and accelerated language. “This speed has led to the widespread use of abbreviations, sound imitations, and hybrid forms of language. For example, expressions like ‘nbr,’ ‘slm,’ or ‘ok,’ as well as the fluid integration of English words into Turkish sentences, demonstrate the emergence of a new ‘digital dialect.’ However, this change should not be viewed merely as a sign of decay. Language always adapts to its technological environment. Digital communication, much like gestures in oral culture, responds to the need to create and share meaning quickly. Even spelling errors sometimes become deliberate stylistic choices. For instance, using lowercase letters or omitting punctuation can serve as markers of sincerity or emotional tone. Therefore, the transformation of digital language should be seen not as corruption, but as an indicator of a new economy of expression,” she said.
Written communication provides a second space for thought
Dr. Karakaş Kırmızısakal emphasized that written communication provides individuals with a second space for reflection. “This allows people to express themselves more consciously and constructively in digital environments. In contrast, spoken language is shaped by immediacy and bodily presence, which brings with it a certain vulnerability and openness. The transformation in literacy practices in the digital age also affects how individuals construct their sense of self. Today, humans are not merely speaking or writing beings, but beings who live through notifications. Messaging apps now determine the rhythm of emotions, relationships, and even silences. The phrase ‘typing...’ has itself become a symbol loaded with meaning. These micro-signs have become the new pulse of modern relationships. Thus, the issue is not only that modes of communication are changing, but that our experience of time, space, and selfhood is also being transformed,” she concluded.