CLEVELAND — Communication has undeniably changed over the years. A local mother and daughter know firsthand how their communication has changed with the introduction of emojis and texting.
Delaney Macke, 12-year-old middle school student from North Olmsted, said she got her first iPhone this year. The upgrade to her cell phone could be spelling trouble.
Her mom Alison Macke said she is already noticing a change in how they communicate on a daily basis.
"We're in such a fast moving society where people really don't make time for lengthier conversations. It's just more direct and quick, easier to get your message across," Alison Macke said.
What was once words on a screen between the mother and daughter are now usually nothing more than just a series of emojis.
Colleen Harding, who runs the Cleveland School of Etiquette, said things have completely change in the way we communicate with one another.
"We have completely gone off the deep end into the dark when it comes to protocol," said Harding.
She says as a society, texting has replaced personal communication.
"It's not going to go away. The problem is if we don't reign it back in a little bit it's going to hurt us," Harding said.
Harding said when we are put into situations where we need to chat face-to-face, it can also be a struggle to maintain eye contact.
"So if you use texting too much to communicate so now when I ask you to look me in the eyes you are totally uncomfortable. You look down at the ground, you look up at the sky. You literally feel awkward connecting with me," she said.
The inability to form those bonds could come back to haunt us.
"You're still going to sit across from somebody one day that's going to see your eyes and need to trust you and connect -- and if you've spent your entire life in front of a screen -- you're cooked," Harding said.
For Macke and her daughter, she has noticed the visible changes with how they communicate.
"It has kind of changed the way we communicate. That's kind of sad," Alison said.
"Every morning before I get on the bus I used to call you, remember in the beginning of the year? Oh yeah that is true. And since I got my new phone I only text you," Delaney added.
The evolution of those messages so far has given Macke a somewhat funny glimpse into the future.
"Maybe our only form of communication is going to be smiley faces, frowny faces and poop emojis," she said.
