While browsing the internet, I read that the average attention span of humans dropped down from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2021. That means goldfish are slightly better than humans in terms of attention span with their 9 seconds! What a revelation! 

Source: Our attention span is shorter than a goldfish’s. Here’s what we can do about it | Commentary

No wonder, memes are getting more and more popular because it speaks a lot with just brief a statement and a picture. Also, TikTok videos and reels are more interesting to watch than full-length video clips. The shorter a video is, the better. A three-minute video seems to be tiresome!

We are living in the age of audiovisual. In fact, it has been around since time immemorial. But due to the massive influence of social media which introduced the Vines, the Tweets, and the Highlight Reels, blogs and online journals are no longer that popular. Audiovisual is the future!

As a lover of words and written media, this got me thinking, "what role does written communication play in a generation that prefers videos?" 

Are we still into blogs and letters?

In the workplace, we can choose to make a quick call and receive instant answers rather than send a letter of inquiry. It is time-saving and efficient. We save the effort of learning syntax and printing papers when we can just make an announcement orally. 

But there are times when written communication is key. Here are some instances:

When the information being transmitted is technical

Some things cannot be easily explained verbally or through pictures. We need to explain things on paper, in detail, so people will know what you are trying to say. Especially when you are discussing things that include technical details such as measurements, ingredients, color gradients, etc. These kinds of information can not be easily relayed verbally, but writing these down in a document form will do them justice.

When the information is to be transmitted to many people

The easiest way to deliver a message to employees of 50s, 100s, or more is through a written memorandum posted in a conspicuous place in the office. I can't imagine the HR officer making calls regularly just to get their message across. Written memos, posted announcements and the like are important in communicating in large groups. 

Same with blogs and written news. These may seem outdated but it still serves their purpose. Just like videos, written commentaries can reach thousands of readers online, especially those who still prefer to read than to watch and listen.

Written information can be revisited from time to time

Since it was said that the average attention span is getting shorter over time, this means the information one has stored in mind may get lost a few hours or days later. When this happens, documented information that can be retrieved anytime does wonder! When one forgets an important detail, that person can always go back to his/her notes. 

Also, when things get out of hand and miscommunication happens, parties can always check the written information for verification. This is why contracts and agreements have to be in writing, to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Lastly, it may sound old school but isn't written information thoughtful?

 In written communication, one has to study grammar, syntax, proper formatting in the case of letters, and the tone of the message has to be given importance as well. This means hard work. Phone calls are easy, video messages are cool, but carefully written messages speak much.

As I've said somewhere in this post, I am a lover of words, so I have my personal bias. I know a lot who are not fond of writing or reading. I understand where they're coming from. It's a matter of preference. But I believe even if we are bombarded with a lot of audiovisual media around, we cannot easily do away with writing. It will always be around.