"Is It a Joke... Or Are You Being Sarcastic?" 33% of Adults Turn Away from Each Other Due to Text Message Misunderstandings

41% Have Experienced Interpreting Jokes Negatively... 75% Say "Face-to-Face Conversation Is Best"

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] One-third of adults have been found to experience misunderstandings from received text messages, leading to strained human relationships.

According to a recent survey by UK-based hearing care specialist Hidden Hearing, conducted among 2,000 local adults, 4 out of 10 people spend hours pondering over the words or tone chosen by the sender in text messages or emails. They try to figure out what emotions might be hidden behind the messages.

One in five people misinterpret messages and mistakenly believe that the sender is angry with them.

More than one-third of people tend to analyze text messages and emails from their coworkers in excessive detail. The same reaction is observed in 20% of spouses or partners and 13% of recently started romantic relationships.

To avoid misunderstandings, 23% of people take considerable time to think before replying. Some even avoid responding for weeks and prefer to meet in person to talk. More than 75% believe that the best way to avoid problems is to have face-to-face conversations.

Hilary Jones, spokesperson for Hidden Hearing, advised, "Spending time together in person rather than communicating digitally with loved ones or friends is very beneficial for mental health. Face-to-face conversations allow you to understand tone, read body language, deepen bonds, and reduce frustration, depression, and anxiety." This is cited as the greatest advantage of direct, in-person communication.

Another issue that can arise from text messages or emails is the misinterpretation of humor. Among survey participants, 41% have experienced interpreting jokes in a negative way. Additionally, 42% failed to recognize sarcastic or mocking expressions.

Misunderstanding the content of text messages or emails can cause significant mental stress. This is especially common among young people.

The survey was conducted by Hidden Hearing with the intention of emphasizing the importance of regular hearing tests as a preventive measure, since one of the biggest barriers to better communication is related to hearing loss.