Overchats

Overchats is a term used to describe communication that occurs concurrently with another primary activity, often to the detriment of engagement with that primary activity. This can manifest in various settings, from social gatherings to professional environments. For instance, at a party, an individual might be having a conversation with one person while simultaneously engaging in whispered exchanges or non-verbal cues with another, creating a sense of divided attention.

In professional contexts, overchatting can refer to employees communicating with each other via instant messaging or other digital means while a meeting or presentation is in progress. This can be disruptive to the speaker and other attendees, indicating a lack of focus on the immediate task at hand. The perceived rudeness or disengagement associated with overchatting can negatively impact interpersonal relationships and the overall effectiveness of group interactions. While some forms of parallel communication might be brief and innocuous, sustained or prominent overchatting is generally viewed as impolite or unproductive. The prevalence of digital communication tools has, for some, blurred the lines of appropriate real-time interaction, potentially leading to an increase in overchatting behaviors.