The old-fashioned telephone call has been replaced with texting. However, this more convenient form of communication comes with its own set of challenges.

At a social media session titled ‘Text Etiquette’, held on the ‘Sharjah Reads’ virtual platform as part of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2020, professional development coach Ammar El Sakhawy gave tips on how to navigate the challenges in communicating via texts.

The session discussed the standards that all social media users should adhere to in order to ensure effective communication with others. El Sakhawy pointed out the rapid transformation social media platforms had brought about in communication in terms of engagement and number of users.

El Sakhawy shared the important rules of texting, patience being the topmost. “If you do not receive an answer, it does not mean that the recipient does not want to engage with you. They could simply be busy,” he noted.

“However, etiquette demands that messages be answered promptly. It is also important to refrain from texting at times when the recipient may be busy or otherwise occupied. Besides, it is crucial not to send very long messages or texts; you risk losing the attention of the recipient when a text takes more than 30 seconds to read,” he added.

The professional development expert advised making a phone call if the 30-second rule would not suffice to convey the message: “At the same time, do not call a person who has sent you a message, because if they were in a position to speak they would have called instead of messaging you in the first place.”

El Sakhawy pointed out that it was important not to ridicule someone through texts. “Always doublecheck to ensure the autocorrect facility is not messing up the text which may cause you and the recipient embarrassment,” he said. “Also, ensure that the text is sent to the right person and take care not to discuss personal affairs on group texting platforms.”

The session also threw light on key abbreviations and acronyms used by social media users.