Stevie perhaps bored by nasty mean barbs? (9)
I believe the answer is:
nicknames
'barbs?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'stevie perhaps bored by nasty mean' is the wordplay.
'stevie perhaps' becomes 'nicks' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'bored by' indicates putting letters inside (to bore something can mean to drill into it).
'nasty' indicates anagramming the letters (a nasty or wrong spelling).
'mean' is an anagram of 'name'.
'nicks' enclosing 'name' is 'NICKNAMES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nicknames that I've seen before include "Handles" , "Monikers" , "Familiar or affectionate add-on appellations" , "sobriquets" , "Chalky and Shorty, for instance" .)