Week 3 discussion: email etiquette
Email has two main impacts on interpersonal communication. First, it allows people to quickly connect with other people and secondly it shifts the focus away from face–to-face interactions. Individuals no longer have the same wait time for an answer as when they used traditional mail and telephone methods. Additionally, electronic communication allows them to communicate with distant contacts more easily. Although this allows for close contact with friends and family, it may lead to dependence on digital communication.
Email communication has many advantages, such as its simplicity (messages can easily be sent any time), and affordability (there are usually no extra costs). Emails also keep track of past conversations, making it easy to search or refer back to them if necessary. Some disadvantages are possible misinterpretations due to the use of language without context and tone, difficulty communicating emotion through a lack of facial expressions/bodylanguage, as well as risks that sensitive information could be compromised when it is sent electronically.