Emblematic of Everything
Ashwini Gangal
Journalist, Fiction Writer, Poet (Previously: Managing Editor at afaqs.com)
A year or so ago, I sent a work related email to the personal gmail id of a talented ad-woman whose design startup was recently acquired by a large advertising network. Let’s call her Molly. She wrote back politely asking me to send work mails to her work id only. I didn’t make much of it and moved on. I was reminded of this exchange yesterday, when I was trying to edit an interview only to be interrupted by WhatsApp pings after every sentence. Half of them were from my teammates and the rest were from family and friends. While I could write reams about why app notifications are a distraction at work and what we must do to focus better on the task at hand without peeking into our mobile screens like the addicts we are, that’s not what this piece is about.
I am marveling at the way in which WhatsApp has become a space where both intense work and all kinds of pleasure collapse into a common ‘inbox’. Each time I open the app, I oscillate between personal and work related messages, as do most of us. The boss and the boyfriend, the pesky publicist and the paranoid parent, the 4:00 am friend and financial advisor… all their messages are nestled dangerously close to one another, yet worlds apart. And still, WhatsApp is the only place all my -our- worlds collide. I wonder whether this is a good thing, especially when Molly is trying so hard to tidy up her inboxes.
Finance | Research | Editorial
4 年For over an year or two, I started spending 90% of my time on Gmail and LinkedIn than any other app. ?? I never felt WhatsApp is really necessary, as I stopped using for one-year. Honestly, I could relish the real outside world, instead of surviving in the virtual world with suffocation of messages unread and uncalled to respond. Ashwini Gangal Being a millennial, as many complain about us, I felt good doing this thing "focusing on what's right and what's required".
Marketing Maven. Salesperson. Business EKO Instruments Co., Ltd. Ex-Leica Geosystems, ex-Lufft, ex-Kipp & Zonen. JLPT N5 completed.
4 年WhatsApp has ingrained in our lives for all kinds of communication whether personal or professional. Few brands have deployed WhatsApp over other messaging means. The question: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/huzefaamotiwala_whatsapp-marketing-ads-activity-6542616529454891009-aUqJ
Senior Director & Head-Corporate Communications, India & South Asia at Visa
4 年According to a recent research report I was browsing through, the engagement rate is high with people opening 98% of all messages received. WhatApp has quietly become an important facilitator of lives across the globe, not just in India.
Director - Strategy and Performance
4 年Nestled dangerously close to each other ??... love ur writing style dear.?? Reminded me of when messages are hastily deleted from office groups .. but yes whatsapp continues to reign supreme...