From Ink to Algorithms

The way we communicate has changed more in the last twenty years than in the hundred before it. Writers once crafted sentences for newspapers—longer, denser, more deliberate. You had to earn a reader’s time. Now, communication is instant, fragmented, and often visual. Tweets, texts, and memes dominate, demanding brevity and immediacy. Attention spans have shortened, and the competition for engagement is relentless. Instead of carefully earned time, writers chase clicks, likes, and shares—crafting messages that must resonate in seconds or risk being ignored entirely.

Today, writing is for the web, where attention spans are measured in seconds and scrolls. Sentences are shorter. (Like these.) Paragraphs are tiny. Headlines scream for clicks. We’ve replaced ink with algorithms, and editors with engagement metrics. Instead of lingering over language, we chase relevance—and sometimes, outrage.

And in this landscape, nuance often gets lost. The rhythm of writing bends to the pace of consumption, optimized for skimming rather than savoring. Algorithms reward immediacy, not depth, pushing creators toward provocation over patience. What once demanded reflection now thrives on reaction, reshaping not just how we write, but how we think.

The good news? More voices get heard. The bad news? They don’t all say much. The democratization of publishing means anyone can share their perspective instantly, but it also means the signal is often buried in noise.

Writers face a dilemma: readers skim, yet crave meaning. Depth emerges through precision—vivid details, sharp metaphors, or questions that linger. Brevity need not be shallow; rhythm and resonance can spark reflection. In seconds, words can still invite thought, proving relevance without surrendering substance.

As media scholar Neil Postman once warned, “We are amusing ourselves to death.” His observation, made decades before social media, feels eerily prescient in an era where entertainment and outrage often overshadow clarity.

Still, clarity, truth, and storytelling never go out of style. Whether it’s on paper or a phone screen, good writing still makes us stop and think. As William Zinsser, author of On Writing Well, reminded us: “Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words.” 

That advice is more relevant than ever in a digital landscape where brevity and precision are prized.

The challenge for communicators today is balance. We must adapt to the realities of digital attention spans without sacrificing depth. We must embrace new platforms without abandoning timeless principles of honesty and craft.

Communication has always evolved, but its purpose remains the same: to connect, to inform, to inspire. The medium may have shifted from ink to pixels, but the responsibility is unchanged. Good writing—clear, truthful, and human—still cuts through the noise. And in a world of endless scrolls, that pause for thought is more valuable than ever.

(Tim Herrera is the author of “Public Speaking: Simple Steps to Improve Your Skills” and “Mastering Media: Strategies for Effective Communication in the Digital Age.”  You’ll find both Amazon.)