The need to respond quickly to messaging apps can be understood through a combination of neurological, emotional and social factors.
Among the neurological factors we can mention:
The Reward System – When a person receives a message and responds to it, the brain releases dopamine, which is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. This activity reinforces the rapid response behavior, making it a habit that can become compulsive. Attention and Focus – The act of responding to messages requires attention, and neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin play important roles in maintaining attention and emotional state. Thus, the need to check and respond to messages can divert attention from more important tasks.
Task Interruption – Australian psychologist John Sweller’s “Cognitive Load” theory suggests that multitasking, such as switching between responding to messages and doing something else, can overload the cognitive system. This can make it harder to perform tasks effectively, but the immediate rewards of social interaction via messaging can outweigh the potential.
Among the emotional factors:
Social Anxiety and Approval – Many people feel pressure to respond quickly to maintain social relationships and avoid the anxiety associated with expecting responses, which can be exacerbated in social situations where rapid communication is valued.
FOMO Syndrome “Fear Of Missing Out” – The fear of missing out on important information or social events can lead individuals to prioritize responding to instant messages, even over more essential activities.
Social Pressures
Cultural Norms – In societies where instant communication is the norm, there is a social expectation that puts pressure on people to respond quickly. The social context can create an environment that values immediate connectivity.
Setting Boundaries – A lack of clear boundaries between personal life and the digital world can make people feel an uncontrollable need to keep a channel of communication open, even during activities that require concentration.
Conclusion, positive and negative approaches
Fast response times in conversations can signal and increase social connection between individuals. This expectation created by fast communication encourages engagement and frequent interaction, strengthening social bonds. Furthermore, it highlights the relevance of mobile technologies in facilitating communication and maintaining relationships.
On the other hand, hyperconnectivity can result in an overload of stimuli, leading to stress and distraction. The pressure to respond quickly can create an unwanted expectation, contributing to anxiety. This increased need for fast responses perpetuates a vicious cycle of hyperconnectivity in personal and professional environments and can impair attention and concentration, making it difficult to engage in deeper interactions or moments of disconnection.
– Goleman, D. (2011). Focus: The new science of attention.
– Levitin, DJ (2014). The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload.
– Carr, N. (2010). The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains.
– Jha, AP, and Gruber, T. (2009). Mindfulness Training Influences Attention and Emotion. Emotion, 9(6), 837-841.
