All posts tagged: digital communication

Why Sonakshi Sinha Was Shocked by Gen Z’s Texting Etiquette

Why Sonakshi Sinha Was Shocked by Gen Z’s Texting Etiquette

A simple “k” while responding to messages may look harmless, but for many people, it can instantly trigger overthinking. Did they get annoyed? Are they upset? Is the conversation over? In a recent episode of Baatcheet with Yuvaa, Sonakshi Sinha was asked which text reply she finds a little suspicious: “hmm”, “k” or a thumbs up emoji. Her answer was immediate. “K to should be illegal. It causes most anxiety, I think.” The conversation then moved to a report suggesting that many Gen Z users perceive full stops and thumbs-up emojis as passive-aggressive in text messages. The actor appeared surprised to learn that even ending a message with a full stop can sometimes be interpreted as rude. While the idea may sound exaggerated to some, psychologists say there is a reason these tiny digital cues can trigger strong emotional reactions. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Why does “k” make people anxious? According to Dhara Ghuntla, psychologist and psychotherapist affiliated with Sujay Hospital, SevenHills Hospital …

Social media design is key to protecting kids online | Lifestyle News

Social media design is key to protecting kids online | Lifestyle News

Social media is a complex environment that presents both opportunities and threats for adolescents, with self-expression and emotional support on the one hand and body-shaming, cyberbullying and addictive behaviors on the other. This complexity underscores the challenge to regulating teen social media use, but it also points to another avenue for protecting young people online: how social media platforms are designed. The growing debate around teen social media use has intensified, with recent bipartisan policy efforts in the US, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, seeking to protect young people from digital harms. These efforts reflect legitimate concerns. However, broad restrictions on social media could also limit benefits for teens, throwing the baby out with the bath water. Story continues below this ad I am a researcher who studies online safety and digital well-being. My recent work with colleagues in computer scientist Pamela Wisniewski’s Socio-Technical Interaction Research Lab underscores a critical point: social media is neither inherently harmful nor entirely beneficial. It is a tool shaped by its design, how teens use it, and …