Instant messaging is a handy tool, no arguments there. Good for sharing information. Confirming appointments.
It’s a nuisance in the hands of impatient people. Those who can see that we’ve read their message but haven’t replied in a manner to their satisfaction, then attempt to hold us to account.
If we don’t respond promptly, satisfactorily, or at all, it’s because:
- we’re busy
- we’re free but not interested
- we’re free but the subject is 🙄 and warrants a simple emoji acknowledgement 👍
- we grow wary of reinforcing instant gratification
If it’s an important matter, email is better than instant messaging. Since the entirety of the matter can be laid out, uninterrupted by digressions, using logical arguments (we hope). Instant messaging is prone to interruption, after all, the smart phone can be put down at almost any time to tend to something else.
Such as:
- driving
- eating
- work
- bathroom breaks
- YouTube
- actual human interaction
People don’t sit at their desks and make an event out of instant messaging, they do it on the fly using but a fraction of their attention – at best.