Barriers in Online

Communication
Tran Kinh Quoc (Kane)
 Cultural and Language Barriers
The Internet connects billions of people worldwide, so differences in
cultures and languages are a major cause of difficulties in online
communication. People from various cultural backgrounds will likely
misunderstand the viewpoints of those from other cultures. Additionally,
foreign people would not understand slang and colloquialisms when
texting with native speakers. These would result in confusion, conflict, and
failure to communicate online.
 Anonymity
Anonymity, while having some benefits, can sometimes do more harm
than good. Some websites such as 4chan allow their users to be
anonymous, and this feature has the potential to cause harm, making it
possible for cyberbullies to harass and verbally assault other users without
facing any consequences. This is a powerful tool for cybercriminals as it
protects their real-life identities from being discovered.
 Differences in Social Status and Class
Internet users come from a wide range of social classes, careers, and
education levels so the differences in their mindsets and life experiences
cannot be avoided. A person from the upper class leads a disparate life
than one from the lower class. This would be able to cause never-ending
arguments between them if they were not sympathetic towards and
open-minded about the matters being discussed online.
 Lack of Body Language and
Facial Expression
Factors such as body language,
vocal intonation, and
demeanor play an important
role in communicating in real
life. Since online
communication often excludes
these non-verbal cues,
misunderstandings, and
miscommunications would
happen more frequently
between Internet users.
 Lack of Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify, comprehend, and
effectively handle our own feelings, in addition to the emotions of those
around us. Due to the lack of physical contact in virtual communication, we
miss out on the opportunity to practice and improve our EQ. As a result,
we can easily be drawn into meaningless arguments on the Internet with
angry strangers about even the smallest issues. This can emotional
exhaustion, which can further impact our emotional intelligence.