Is Digital The New Relationship-warmth Sanitiser?
"Happy birthday!”.
A message dropped into my LinkedIn box, on the afternoon of my birthday. I checked it to see who was it from a friend with whom I spoke that morning about some professional project.
Did he forget my birthday when we had spoken earlier? Or probably LinkedIn reminded him of my birthday. He does have my mobile number, and we anyways keep chatting on WhatsApp.
It's especially amusing when you receive birthday wishes on social media, from friends who you talk to every day. You know, those friends who can't go a single morning without sending you a "Good morning!" text or updating you on their latest meal on Instagram. But when it's your birthday, suddenly they forget how to form a coherent sentence and resort to the generic "HBD" or "Happy Bday" abbreviation. Wow, the effort is overwhelming! And let's not forget the ever-so-original "Happy Birthday!" comment on your Facebook timeline, accompanied by a confetti emoji and a hastily selected GIF of a dancing cat. It's as if they spent hours curating the perfect birthday message just for you. Bravo, you've truly outdone yourself this time.
In today's fast-paced digital world, the way we celebrate birthdays and convey our well-wishes has taken a new form. It's no longer just about sending a (e)card or making a phone call; it's now common to see birthday wishes popping up on unexpected platforms, such as LinkedIn messaging.
LinkedIn, the new Hallmark or Archie’s?
A quick glance at your LinkedIn or Facebook notifications on your special day can reveal a barrage of well-wishes from acquaintances, long-lost friends, and even that one colleague you exchanged pleasantries with at the office cafeteria once. It seems like everyone you've ever met suddenly remembers your birthday, thanks to the social media reminders. This phenomenon reflects the changing landscape of social interactions in the digital age, where convenience, accessibility, and societal posturing play a role in how we express our birthday greetings.
LinkedIn, originally designed as a professional networking site, has evolved to become a platform where individuals not only network for business purposes, but also engage in social interactions. While this practice may seem impersonal to some, it highlights how social norms have shifted in the digital age, blurring the lines between personal and professional interactions.
With its automated reminders and notifications, it has become all too easy to click the "Congratulate" button and leave a standard-template birthday message on someone's profile. While this may seem like a harmless gesture, it can often come across as impersonal and insincere, especially when the individuals sending the messages know each other personally.
Sure, the intention behind these digital wishes is sweet, but let's face it - there's something impersonal about receiving a flood of identical birthday messages from people you rarely interact with outside of social media. It's almost as if social media has turned birthdays into a popularity contest, where the number of likes and comments on your birthday post becomes a measure of your social worth. And don't even get me started on the dreaded "HBD" or "HBTY" acronyms that some people resort to in order to save time and effort. Is it really that hard to type out "Happy Birthday to You"?
Another aspect that contributes to this social mindset is the desire to maintain professional relationships and appearances. LinkedIn is a platform where individuals showcase their career achievements, build their professional brand, and network with colleagues and potential employers. Sending birthday wishes on LinkedIn may be seen as a way to reinforce professional connections and maintain a positive image.
In the competitive world of work, leveraging social media for birthday wishes can be seen as a way to enhance one's professional image. Not surprisingly, it is even business leaders, who are usually well networked, and believe in relationships, have got into this digital habit - of wishing behind the social media screen, when their friend is a call away.
It's as if the digital world has turned us all into birthday robots, programmed to send out automated wishes without considering the nuances of personal relationships. Taking the time to send a personalised message, making a phone call, or sending a physical card can go a long way in building meaningful relationships and fostering genuine connections. In this digital overload era, despite humans being biologically delivered, and not digitally downloadable yet, genuine warmth and personal connection are essential in maintaining meaningful relationships, both online and offline.
