Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world challenges. How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life.Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.
225. Speaking Fluent Internet: How Algorithms Are Changing the Way We Speak
In the digital age, it’s critical to craft communication that fits the context.
Like it or not, algorithms now decide whose messages get heard. “If you want to communicate effectively,” says Adam Aleksic, “you need to be exactly aware of what that medium is doing.”
Aleksic is a linguist, author, and educational content creator with millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. His latest book, Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language, explores how the platforms we use create new contexts that require new ways of communicating. “Every medium uniquely affects how we communicate, and we adapt our speech to these media,” he says. In the same way that we tailor communication for the contexts of the office, the gym, or the bar, digital platforms — and the algorithms that drive them — require the same contextualized communication. “You have to appeal to [the] algorithm,” he says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Aleksic and host Matt Abrahams examine how words are born, change meaning, and spread in the digital age. Their conversation highlights practical ways to be more intentional with the words we choose by considering the medium, understanding the context, and adapting communication accordingly.
To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.
Episode Reference Links:
- Adam Aleksic
- Adam’s Book: Algospeak
- Ep.91 Um, Like, So: How Filler Words Can Create More Connected, Effective Communication
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- Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
Chapters:
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (02:21) - Language, Labels, & Identity
- (04:40) - What Is Algospeak?
- (05:46) - Generational Language Gaps
- (08:03) - Communicating for Multiple Mediums
- (10:45) - Mastering Virality & Engagement
- (12:12) - Semiotics & Going Viral
- (13:58) - The Evolution of “Like”
- (15:09) - Hedging, Ambiguity, & Power Dynamics
- (17:47) - Actionable Takeaways on Communication
- (18:58) - Grammar: Rules, Context, & Changing Norms
- (21:01) - The Final Three Questions
- (26:50) - Conclusion
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