In what I feel is a gross misuse of technology, it has been reported that Malaysia Airlines notified families of flight MH370 that it had likely crashed into the ocean and their families and loved ones, and did it by text message.

We are already living in a world where people often communicate by text and social network as opposed to voice, some interpersonal relationships exist solely via text/online, and immediate responses are expected (you know if someone doesn’t respond in 3/5ths of a second to your text, you wonder what’s taking so long). For casual conversation I can understand, but it is not appropriate for dumping someone, threatening/harassing someone, and certainly not doing…this kind of thing.

And above all, it is not appropriate for telling people their families and friends have perished. Malaysia Airlines defended their method, which on first read almost makes sense, but there need to be some circumstances that are simply off limits, and I definitely think this is one of them.