Virtual Events: The Changing Dynamics of Interaction

Adrian Geske

What is Happening?

With unexpected circumstances of disease ravaging our social interactions, new challenges arise with the shift and investment into digital solutions. Much of what a conference room or a lunch meeting used to be is now a face-to-face stream on your devices. As time has passed from the original panic, larger group events have been continued in this manner as well. Virtually replicating this type of gathering presents some interesting changes in the dynamics of these interactions.

What is Changing?

Everyone has their own environment. Say what you want about not being able to talk in person, sometimes it’s nice to have a little buffer for comfortability. The anxiety of the moment plagues a lot of people’s ability to express themselves fully. Take it from me, I have struggled with social interactions ever since my early teen years. Digital interactions create a barrier that could boost the confidence of those who would otherwise let the moment control them. But what about those who thrive under normal social circumstances?

When the attention of the crowd doesn’t belong to the loudest in the room, who controls the intrigue? There is power in having a social gravitation when trying to win the attention of potential employers and fellow industry peers. How might remote nature of virtual events neutralize the power of social presence? Will there be a decreased level of value given to those who can rise to the occasion? Many of us who struggle with these pressures might be hopeful that we will be able to compete with our confident and compelling peers.

What is the Future?

The fact of the matter is more events and interactions are going to happen online. We can not avoid a future where this does not affect the social forces that contribute to success or failure when trying to sell yourself. What will not change is the intrigue that illuminates from larger than life personalities. There will always be value in standing out socially. There is just a new frontier. Many of the internet personalities that dominate the digital entertainment world are showing us just that. What might just happen is that people who would otherwise not be able to interact and converse will have the opportunity to do so. Collaboration will be the name of the game with a decreased individuality in the work and ideas of the future. No longer are we confined to our geographic location. 

However, as humans we value face-to-face interaction. There is trust to be gained with being able to read and understand a person’s true intentions. If the circumstances permit, there will always be a push for in-person meeting and conversation. Without the ability to be in the same room as someone, there is something missing from our humanity.