Technology

Social media is reshaping workplace communication across generations, study finds

Monday, 19 May 2025 12:13AM UTC

New research from The Adaptavist Group reveals how platforms like TikTok and Instagram are transforming professional communication styles, highlighting a growing divide between younger and older employees and the need for tools to bridge these differences.

In an age dominated by digital communication, the influence of social media on workplace interactions is profound and evolving. According to recent research from The Adaptavist Group, platforms like TikTok and Instagram are not only reshaping personal communication but are also infiltrating professional environments, fundamentally altering the dynamics of collaboration among an increasingly diverse workforce. This transformation has been detailed in The Adaptavist Group’s Workplace Communication Atlas, which highlights that 83 percent of respondents acknowledged a shift in their professional communication style due to social media.

The research, which surveyed 1,000 knowledge workers in the UK, reveals a stark generational divide in how social media impacts communication. Specifically, younger employees—comprising Gen Z and Millennials—are significantly more susceptible to social media trends. The study found that 54 percent of those over 50 reported that social media trends had minimal impact on their language use, while this sentiment was echoed by only a third of Gen Z and 39 percent of Millennials. Such disparities suggest that the digital environment has cultivated distinct linguistic adaptations among age groups, fostering a climate where new phrases and meanings proliferate more rapidly among younger workers.

Further compounding these communication challenges is the generational gap in social media presence. Approximately 22 percent of individuals over 50 are not active on any social media platforms, in contrast to a mere 3 percent of Gen Z and 7 percent of Millennials. This discrepancy informs not just frequency of interaction but also the platforms preferred: older users tend to favour Facebook, while Instagram and TikTok dominate among younger demographics. These preferences reflect not only generational habits but also unique lexicons and interaction styles fostered by each platform, which can lead to misunderstandings across an intergenerational workforce.

The implications of these communication styles are significant. Younger employees are more inclined to utilise messaging apps such as WhatsApp for work-related communication (44 percent of Gen Z and 42 percent of Millennials) compared to only 28 percent of Boomers. With this shift, new expectations arise regarding response times and communication tones. Research has shown nearly half of all respondents consider the misinterpretation of tone a major workplace challenge, with differing expectations around response times adding to the friction. Younger employees frequently anticipate immediate replies, while their older counterparts adopt a more patient stance.

In response to these evolving dynamics, tools for effective communication are increasingly recognised as essential. The Adaptavist’s 2024 Digital Etiquette report reveals that a significant majority of global workers believe that appropriate tools can help close the generational communication gap. This reflects a growing awareness that the right technological frameworks might facilitate understanding and collaboration, thus mitigating instances of miscommunication driven by differing interpretations of language and tone.

Moreover, cultural shifts within workplace communication are being driven by younger employees’ attitudes towards language use. For instance, Gen Z's casual employment language, influenced by their backgrounds on social media, often clashes with the formality preferred by older generations. Many older workers view emoji use as informal or even unprofessional, a sentiment not shared by their younger colleagues who regard emojis as friendly and relatable. This generational divide extends into broader cultural norms, where the casual approach to topics such as mental health and work-life balance is now gaining traction, thanks in part to younger generations challenging traditional norms.

The rapid integration of social media language into the workplace does not come without challenges. Nearly a third of employees have reported misunderstandings arising from emoji use alone, underscoring the potential pitfalls of translating informal communication into professional settings.

Adapting to these changes is critical for businesses aiming to thrive in a multigenerational workforce. Practical solutions may include intergenerational workshops and mentoring programs, which can foster collaboration and mutual understanding. By embracing these initiatives, companies can both honour the experience of older employees and cultivate the innovative perspectives offered by younger generations, ultimately creating a more cohesive and effective workplace.

With social media's ongoing evolution, the conversation about communication in the workplace is likely to continue shifting. As younger generations ascend within professional hierarchies, their informal communication styles and digital fluency will increasingly dictate not just how messages are sent, but also how they are perceived and understood in the corporate lexicon.

Reference Map
1. Paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
2. Paragraph 3
3. Paragraph 4
4. Paragraph 5
5. Paragraph 6
6. Paragraph 5
7. Paragraph 2

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://workplaceinsight.net/parlez-vous-tik-tok-how-social-media-has-changed-the-dynamics-of-workplace-communication/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.ft.com/content/9716d5ff-1b06-456d-ad73-7ea10f82f511 - This article discusses the challenges and solutions related to generational language differences in the modern workplace, particularly among Gen Z employees. It highlights how five generations coexisting in office environments have led to communication gaps due to differing jargon and formality preferences. Content creators on platforms like TikTok and Instagram have gained popularity by translating casual thoughts into professional language, aiding younger workers in navigating corporate settings. Research indicates that nearly half of Gen Z and millennial employees feel less engaged because of unfamiliar jargon, with many learning to interpret it on their own. AI tools are also being used to refine workplace communication. The article concludes with a humorous yet insightful translation of Gen Z's casual phrase 'that sounds like a you problem' into a more diplomatic professional response.
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/05/gen-z-workplace-communication - This article explores how Gen Z is transforming workplace communication by introducing internet slang, promoting mental health discussions, and fostering a culture of realism. Older colleagues are noticing changes, such as a lack of guilt about not working overtime and a preference for casual, personal conversations. These younger employees, comfortable with social media's informal style, find traditional workplace jargon cumbersome and consider excessive punctuation passive-aggressive. This shift is reshaping interactions in professional settings.
https://www.ft.com/content/ee6fb86c-d2c6-4bc3-ac5c-e7bd7a1db1d4 - This article examines how Generation Z (ages 14-26) is impacting businesses, revealing that they value social and political causes, prefer value-driven consumption, and believe companies have a greater role than governments in solving societal issues. They also prioritize transparency, sustainability, and work-life balance. As Gen Z and millennials constitute nearly half of the U.S. workforce, companies are adapting to their elevated expectations. Gen Z's familiarity with technology and social media, as well as their direct communication style, is impacting corporate practices and necessitating external advisors to bridge the generational gap.
https://time.com/3897307/generation-gap-in-the-workplace/ - This article addresses bridging the generational gap in the workplace, emphasizing collaboration between younger and older employees. It provides practical advice for both generations to foster understanding and efficiency. For the younger generation, the suggestions include demonstrating the usefulness of newer tools, valuing older colleagues' experience, diversifying communication methods, exercising patience, and maintaining politeness in messages. For the older generation, the recommendations are embracing younger mentors, adapting to new methods, seeking help when needed, being open to change, and learning to use newer communication platforms like social media. Through mutual respect and adaptation, both groups can overcome their differences and succeed together.
https://corporate.britishcouncil.org/insights/language-transformation-navigating-gen-z-communication-style-workplace - This article explores Gen Z's communication style in the workplace, highlighting their preference for instant messaging over emails, use of emojis, and a more informal language style influenced by social media. It discusses how Gen Z's engagement with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat leads to concise and personalized written messages. The article also notes that Gen Z's comfort with online platforms promotes inclusivity and sensitivity to diverse perspectives, resulting in a communication style that values and integrates diversity.
https://www.ft.com/content/fa1c2407-86da-4f34-8bfc-1fce2db657d1 - This article discusses the challenges of navigating multigenerational workplaces, where Baby Boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z employees coexist. A survey by the Adaptavist Group found that older employees are frustrated by younger colleagues' lack of traditional tools, while younger workers complain about outdated techniques. Additionally, emoji use can lead to miscommunication. Despite this, only 6% of organizations believe their leaders manage intergenerational teams well. To address these issues, institutions like Iéseg are implementing intergenerational workshops and reverse mentoring programs to foster collaboration and understanding across age groups.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative references The Adaptavist Group's 2024 Digital Etiquette report, indicating recent research and updates. However, specific details about the date of publication or the release of the Workplace Communication Atlas are not provided.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: There are no direct quotes mentioned in the text. The narrative is based on research findings and does not include personal statements that could be traced back to specific individuals.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from Workplace Insight, which is not a widely recognized or mainstream publication. The reliability is based on the use of specific research findings from The Adaptavist Group.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about the impact of social media on workplace communication are plausible, given the well-documented influence of social media on modern communication styles. The generational divide in social media use and its effects on workplace dynamics align with general trends observed in recent years.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative appears generally plausible, aligning with known trends in social media's influence on workplace communication. However, the lack of direct quotes and specific publication dates, combined with the lesser-known source, limits the overall assessment to medium confidence.

social media
workplace communication
generational gap