On Subliminal Messages and the Importance of Direct Communication

The Age of Social Media has Made Everyone More Accessible but Less Communicative.

Social media is a gift and a curse.

On the one hand, it has allowed us to meet and connect with people from across the globe with a few clicks on our keyboards.

On the other hand, it’s literally changing the way we communicate, and often, not in a good way.

According to the University of the People, social media changes how we communicate in the following ways, in particular:

• Summarized Writing — One of the top ways social media has changed how we communicate is that many of us are now prone to summarize our writing. Given that most social media platforms have character limits and our collective shorter attention spans, most of us now summarize our writing automatically. This is great because it saves us all time, but it also leaves room for things to get lost in translation.
• Abbreviations: In keeping with that notion, we also use far more abbreviations. These abbreviations are relatively easy to understand and very widely used. Nevertheless, those who are not “hip to the lingo” are often left searching the Urban Dictionary to understand and respond to comments and messages.
• Filter-Free Communication: When speaking to those we know IRL (in real life), we are far more likely to filter our words. However, the internet allows us to get the attention of those we may have no chance of ever meeting. Therefore, when communicating online, many people use harsher words and tones than they would when speaking to those they have a chance of seeing at the grocery store.
• Emojis and Gifs: One relatively fun way social media has changed communication is the increased use of gifs and emojis. If you’re unfamiliar, these tiny pictures and mini-movies are used to indicate someone’s emotions during a conversation. These are fun to use but often misinterpreted and require explanation.
• Talking for an Audience: Social media communication has taught us that there’s always an audience. Whether you’re commenting inside an inbox or underneath a photo, there is an excellent likelihood that someone else will see it. Therefore, many people communicate as though others are watching at all times.

Social Media and Subliminals

Although other types of miscommunication have been studied more extensively, the research about using subliminal messages on social media for personal reasons is less widespread.

If you take the time to Google subliminal messages on social media, most articles are about marketing and advertising. However, some reports focus on the darker aspects of these subliminal messages. For instance, I found at least one report on suicide and subliminal messages on Instagram. So, it’s clearly something that researchers have taken note of.

On another note, Thought Catalog posted an article about the top subliminal posts on social media. The overall point of the article is that many people on social media don’t communicate directly. Instead, they tend to post subliminal posts designed to elicit certain emotions and responses from particular people.

On the one hand, it makes sense. Most people need to be more straightforward when communicating with those closest to them. However, social media provides everyone with a unique opportunity to post their innermost thoughts without needing to address anyone directly.

So, for instance, if you have a boyfriend who is mistreating you, you might repost a meme about how bad boyfriends don’t know what they have until it’s gone. Ideally, this would lead to the boyfriend reflecting on his actions and calling to ask if he can do anything to fix things. Unfortunately, the truth is often stranger than fiction.

Although there are times we all wish others would pay closer attention to what’s being posted on our pages, the truth is that they often do not. For instance, if you have a horrible boyfriend who isn’t attentive to your needs, he’s also probably not paying much attention to your social media pages.

For that matter, many abusive people lack the ability to self-reflect. Therefore, even when confronted with their misdeeds, they often slip into denial or deflection to avoid taking accountability. So, even if they do figure out you are talking about them, they are still unlikely to do anything to improve the situation.

Hitting the Wrong Dogs

One of the worst parts of posting social media subliminal messages is that you are bound to hit a few innocent bystanders. Indeed, as the old saying goes, “Hit dogs holler,” but what happens when your warning shots hit the wrong person?

For instance, you may post a subliminal message about not getting support that is meant for your family specifically. However, if you don’t direct the post at someone in particular, you leave room for friends and those who genuinely support you to take offense to your words. And sure, it would be nice if they would come to you directly for clarification, but it’s far more likely that they will respond with a subliminal message of their own.

Additionally, when it comes to those you know IRL, you also have to realize that these matters don’t simply stay on social media. If they’re not bold enough to speak to you about it directly, they may thoroughly discuss the matter with someone else you know. Over time, this can serve to degrade the communication and quality of many of your relationships. This is because being passive-aggressive with others is like sending them an invitation to do the same to you.

While being passive-aggressive may seem like the easy road, it can actually cause far more problems. What’s the solution? Be direct!

Yes, I know this is a scary premise for many. However, pulling someone aside and telling them how you feel is the best way to communicate with people you love.

Running to social media with all your problems is one of the worst things you can do to your relationships. In the same way, you would feel offended if someone you love chose to post a meme about you instead of discussing the issue with them; others will also feel disregarded and disrespected when you do it to them.

We have now reached a point in which we understand social media and how it can negatively impact our lives and the lives of those we love. Rather than continuing down this dark path, it is up to each of us to make the conscious decisions to be more caring and personal with the people in our social circles. Failing to do so will one day create a dystopian existence where we’re all out of touch, and the only semblance of reality can be found online.

How do you feel about subliminal messages?

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