Final answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'ephemeral,' which highlights the transient nature of electronic communications like emails and texts in today's society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Today, by contrast, we treat electronic communications - emails and texts - as the most fleeting and ephemeral of things, barely worth dignifying with our attention with regard to punctuation, spelling, or grammar. The correct word to use in the blank is 'ephemeral,' which means lasting for a very short time, and captures the essence of how electronic communications are often perceived.
Digital communication has become ingrained in society, often considered more convenient and efficient than traditional methods like face-to-face conversation or phone calls. This shift has given rise to a new set of media ideologies about the ways in which various forms of communication can be used or substituted for one another. These changing ideologies and practices demonstrate the evolving nature of language and communication in the digital age.