Texting, Social media, and the Evolving Use of the Cellphone: In your opinion what were the three most important developments in communication history?

Over the years, many different forms of mass communication has allowed people to connect to one another. While it is difficult to determine which developments are the most historically significant, I think that the texting, social media, the evolving use of the cellphone has played an important role in communication during my lifetime.

Even though I prefer to actually talk on the telephone instead of type, texting has changed the way we communicate with our family and friends. I can't tell you just how many people I try to call and get no answer, however, as soon as I text them, they respond. It is almost like texting is replacing actual conversations over the telephone. In fact, texting has become the primary way many people talk to each other, especially the younger generations.

In addition to texting, social media is a critical development in communication. Similar to texting, social media is also replacing face-to-face interactions. Facebook has almost given people the ability to connect to anyone at the click of screen. Along with keeping in touch with family and friends, social media has changed the way employers and applicants find each other.

Cellphones and their evolving use has probably been the most significant development in communication in my lifetime. It has allowed us to be in contact at all times, makes texting possible, social media accessible anywhere. Cellphones have come a long way since their invention. When I was in high school, only a handful of kids had cellphones. Nowadays, it is rare to find a kid that doesn't have one glued to their hand.