What is Computer Mediated Communication? & How does CMC (a)effect interpersonal communication?

What is Computer Mediated Communication?

“Computer-mediated communication” – CMC, means communication mediated by machine, such as a computer. CMC is a relatively indirect way of interaction, compared to FtF communication. Usually the medium in existing CMC studies is text based rather than based on visual or verbal communication channels. According to Rafaeli, CMC could be either interpersonal or group, but not mass (Rafaeli & Sudweeks, 1997), since the computer is mainly considered as an individual communication tool rather than a medium for mass distribution such as the broadcast media (TV or radio). Especially, computer-mediated interpersonal communication (CMIC) means person-to-person interaction where the computer has been interposed to transcend the limitations of time and space (Cathcart & Gumpert, 1983).”

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Junghyun, Kim. "Interpersonal Interaction in Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) : Exploratory Qualitative Research based on Critical Review of the Existing Theories." Conference Papers -- International Communication Association (2003): 1-26. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Feb. 2010.

**This was the definition of CMC that I most understood and used to support “How does CMC (a) effect interpersonal communication?”**

How does CMC (a) effect interpersonal communication?

Computer-Mediated Communication affects interpersonal communication in several ways, although one way most popular with today’s generation is communication through Social Networking Sites (SNSs). According to the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Social Networking Sites are defined as “web-based services that allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users to who they share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system.” Personally, before taking Interpersonal & Intercultural Communication this semester, I never thought of the definition of Computer Mediated Communication or the definition of Social Networking Sites. To me, my favorite Social Networking Site was and still is Facebook and updating my status is a daily necessity, but now I am beginning to realize how it is affecting my interpersonal communication and interpersonal relationships with others.

Using Facebook as my main source of Computer-Mediated Communication, I would like to focus on the “friend’s list” which really does affect my interpersonal relationships. I currently have 764 “friends.” The negative aspect of this grouping of “friends” is that it gives me a false identity. And what does the term “friends” mean anyway? “The term friends can be misleading, because the connection does not necessarily mean friendship in the everyday vernacular sense, and the reasons people connect are varied (boyd, 2006).” There could not be a truer statement said. My Facebook “friends” vary from classmates, people’s parents, relatives, and only a very few close friends. Many of my Facebook “friends” and I have nothing in common and sometimes I wonder if my true friends wonder why I am associated with them. Some of them I share no common interests with and they belong to different social organizations than I do and most likely ever will. Some of them are parents, teen-mothers, married, jocks, or even in middle school which is impossible to relate to college life at all.

Another problem created by Computer-Mediated Communication is that being “friends” with people I don’t know or maybe dislike on Facebook, changes my persona. This affects the interpersonal relationships that I have the ability to have with some of these “friends” because they receive a false sense of me when chatting, messaging, or even commenting on my pictures. A Communications Textbook published an article entitled “I’m there, but I might not want to talk to you.” This happens to me rather often when people message me on Facebook and I can actually escape them. With Computer Mediated Communication, I would have to have a face-to-face conversation with people that I don’t know or dislike or I would never associate with them as “friends” in real life. I wonder if they have ever stopped to think about my pictures or my status updates. I can’t always say how I’m feeling in certain situations on Facebook and I don’t always put all my pictures on Facebook because I don’t want to be deemed as silly, stupid, or immature to my “friends” or most importantly, future employers.

Another aspect of Social Networking Sites and Interpersonal Communication discussed in an article in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication is the difference between “groups” and “networks.” In the past, at the beginning of the Internet generation, Social Networking Sites were divided into “networks” many of which were divided into discussion questions that brought people together. These Social Networking Sites are not considered to be “personal networking sites”, but rather “networking” sites to connect with other through a person’s profession, for example. Today, Social Networking Sites like Facebook encourage users to join “groups” which could be considered social organizations of identity to someone studying Interpersonal Communication. The article argues that “networking” is more like the real world and its interpersonal relationships where as “groups” are separate people by aspects of life such as the brands they like, but they ultimately are unable to have an interpersonal relationship with the people in the group. “The world is composed of networks, not groups (Wellman, 1988. P. 37).” I can also agree with this based on my own Facebook group list. Currently on Facebook, I am a member of 122 groups and I am not “friends” with anyone in the groups that I was not “friends” with before joining the group. At least in interpersonal relationships without Computer-Mediated Communication, a person is able to further discuss the subject, but generally I am unable to make a meaningful relationship with someone that I have never met just because they buy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups too.

Some people could oppose the argue the ideas and studies published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, but I completely agree with the ideas although I had never quite seen Facebook in the same light before. I do not take Facebook messages as important as other forms of communication in my life. I would prefer to get a telephone call than a Facebook message saying “Hey, What’s up?” And truth is my true friends still are my friends on or off of Facebook. Computer-Mediated Communication directly effects interpersonal communication and may continue to effect interpersonal communication in the future. Future articles will be published and future case studies will be done by the Journal of Computer-Mediated on the effects Computer-Mediated Communication has on interpersonal communication.

Sources:


Boyd, Danah M., and Nicole B. Ellison. "Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13.1 (2007): 210-230. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
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Catlett, Jenna. "An Analysis of Female University Students' Communicative Management of Privacy Online via Facebook." Conference Papers -- National Communication Association (2007): 1. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Feb. 2010.
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Quan-Haase, Anabel, and Jessica L. Collins. "'I'M THERE, BUT I MIGHT NOT WANT TO TALK TO YOU'." Information, Communication & Society 11.4 (2008): 526-543. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Feb. 2010.
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Ramirez, Artemio. "The Effect of Interactivity on Initial Interactions: The Influence of Information Seeking Role on Computer-Mediated Interaction." Western Journal of Communication 73.3 (2009): 300-325. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 14 Feb. 2010.
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What is Computer Mediated Communication? & How does CMC (a)effect interpersonal communication?

by Carolyn Levine
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What is Computer Mediated Communication?
CMC is the processing of sending and sharing messages via a technological medium. This includes but is not limited to social networking sites, email, instant messaging, and texting.

How does CMC (a)effect interpersonal communication?
CMC allows users to be anonymous and to develop a new persona. Communication that involves an electronic medium transforms basic communication. “Environments such as chat rooms and newsgroups allow communicators to gather information, form impressions, and make relational decisions about others in an unobtrusive—and fairly undetectable manner.” (Ramirez, 2) It allows the user to be whoever they want, say whatever they want, and act in a manner they may not have if the communication had been face-to-face. “Their principle of interactivity holds that ‘‘human communication processes and outcomes vary systematically with the degree of interactivity that is afforded or experienced’’ (Burgoon et al., 2002, p. 659). As such, variations in structural affordances and experiential indicators of interactivity are expected to have predictable effects on communication processes and outcomes.”(Ramirez, 3) This being said, communication varies based on interaction levels. Interaction lacks in CMC because there is no longer face time which more often cause a miscommunication. When having a conversation face-to-face very little is misunderstood because one is able to ask questions directly, and take clues from facial expressions and body language. These aspects that determine mood are often lost in computer mediated communication.

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A positive effect of computer mediated communication is giving words to those who may not have spoken out before. Teens and young adults who were once shy now have a place to share there ideas, interests, and most importantly there words. “[m]any American youth say that Internet communication, especially instant messaging, has become an essential feature of their social lives. . . . Relationships . . . are now nourished by the ease and speed of instant message exchanges and e-mail messages. Difficult conversations with friends are now mediated by the emotional distance the Internet provides. (p. 354)”(Keaten & Kelly 2-3)

Avril Lavigne "Complicated"-Analysis

Many people may listen to Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" and think, “Hmm…what a great song.” But others when given the opportunity to complete an in-depth analysis of the song may realize that the lyrics discuss life, a person’s identity, and self presentation. The themes of “Complicated” are themes that many of us have been forced to explore during our own lives. In high school, a trying time in life begins where many teenagers are trying to fit in. How do they present themselves? I certainly do remember when I had to have the coolest backpack, the newest shoes, and the most fashionable outfit because if I didn’t I would face what the other kids would think of me. Everyone has the need to fit into a social organization and “Complicated” shares with the listener that everyone struggles to present themselves in a way that creates acceptance of others. Identity is also a main theme in “Complicated” that is something many people focus on every day. Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who do others want us to be? These questions are always running through our minds. Personally, I have always wanted to be the girl that everyone looked at as being interested in learning, independent, caring, compassionate, and always and forever a small town girl. But just as Lavigne explains life in her song, we all struggle at one point or another to be a certain way regardless of whether that is who we truly are.

Identity can be defined as a "theory of self" formed and maintained through actually or imagined interpersonal agreement about what the self is like. A major part of the song deals with changing your identity to fit into a particular social organization. The person being spoken to in the song by Lavigne is having an interpersonal disagreement between their formed and imagined self. In order to fit in, it seems as though they have gone against their own personal identity. In the lyrics below, Lavigne tries to tell the individual that they are perfect in their own way. Lavigne is frustrated with this person for trying to be someone that they are not, just to gain acceptance from others. This could be compared to times when your friends told you to “never change” or “be yourself.” We may all be one physical body, but we do tend to change our personality, identity, and self-presentation to become what we think we should be. Lavigne sees these changes although truly wants this person to “never change” and be themselves.

I like, you the way you are
When we're drivin' in your car
And you're, talkin' to me one on one
But you become

In the lyrics below, Lavigne continues to explain what happens to all of us at some point in our lives. Lavigne sees this person that she thinks so knows change depending on the social situation or atmosphere. When this person is just with her, they are different and she likes them just the way they are. Lavigne also sees the tension and anxiety that wanting to fit into a social organization can cause. She sees the person become anxious when trying to be something that they really are not. Lavigne doesn’t really like what she sees and appreciates the true person much more than the “fake” person that everyone supposedly likes more. In life, many people are two-sided, they are friends for the wrong reasons, and many times they get into trouble for doing what is “cool.” Lavigne gives the same “everyone’s doing it” lecture that a parent would give a child, but instead the lecture can only be interpreted through her music. Lavigne knows the interpersonal truth….”not everyone is doing it” and “so what if they are because you are an amazing person just the way you are.”

Somebody else
'Round everyone else
Your watchin' your back
Like you can't relax
You tryin' to be cool
You look like a fool to me

The Social Identity Theory states that people's concepts of themselves are linked to membership in social groups. This fits the song perfectly because this person's concept of themselves has changed in order to be accepted as member into that social group. People also change how they represent themselves based upon the situations they are in. When at home you could be one person, but once in a group you could be someone totally different. In the song, Avril Lavigne says "Dressed up like you're something else" she seems to be the only one who sees this person's elaborate changes of identity and self presentation as they go from themselves to someone else just to fit in.

You come over unannounced
Dressed up, like you're somethin' else
Where you are ain't where it's at you see
You're makin' me
Laugh out, when you strike a pose
Take off, all your preppy clothes
You know, you're not foolin' anyone

In the above lyrics, Lavigne continues to impress upon the fact that a person cannot completely ever be someone they are not. You can not be a prep, if you are not the preppy type. Certain clothes don’t always define who a person is, although clothes define people for a short period of time. Lavigne wants to point out in this song that she can see the true person through the clothes and that the true person is not a prep, but visually seen that way through their “preppy clothes.”

I see the way you're actin' like you're somebody else
Gets me frustrated
Honestly, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fake it

In the final lyrics of Avril Lavigne’s song “Complicated” she continues to relay the message to her audience that people really want to see the true you, not who you can be through changes in self-presentation and identity. Lavigne feels that she knows the real person in this song and in a weird way feels they have lied to her and many others through trying to fit into a social organization where they don’t belong.

Lavigne is obviously frustrated with this interpersonal relationship battle that all people go through to find themselves, their social organization, their identify, and their way of self-presentation. Writing this blog certainly helped to analyze a song that has such a deep message that touches everyone in a different way. We all struggle at some point to fit in and Lavigne gives us strength through her music to be ourselves, instead of someone you’re not. “Be You! And that will be enough to make you fit into a social organization and have an identity.”

Avril Lavigne "Complicated"

Discuss “facework” – how does “computer mediated communication” (a) effect the process of management, ethics, attraction/repulsion?

Computer Mediated Communication can both affect the process of management ethics, attraction, and repulsion. Today’s generation is exposed to several different forms of Computer Mediated Communication. Many people everyday resort to social mediums like Facebook, AOL Instant Messenger, Skype, Twitter, MySpace, Formspring, E-Harmony, Blogspot, Email and Cellular Phones from the simplest phone to a Blackberry or Iphone. The main question that comes to mind when thinking about these mediums-How does “computer mediated communication” (a) effect the process of management, ethics, and attraction/repulsion?

Management has been greatly affected by Computer Mediated Communication. In the past, business meetings were always held in conference rooms where employees looked at each other face to face while discussing important company topics. Recently, business meetings are conducted through chat rooms, email, Skype, and Blackberry messaging. Disciplinary actions in businesses can now be completed in a less personal manner using email or AOL Instant Messenger. People today find it easier to make confrontational statements and confrontational decisions using Computer Mediated Communication.

Attraction used to be an emotion found at a local coffee shop or at the grocery store, but today the coffee shop and grocery store have been replaced by dating websites like E-harmony and even social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. E-Harmony is a dating site that allows a person to post information about themselves, pictures, and what they are looking for in a future soul mate. Other people that are looking for their future soul mate then join the website to connect with their “true love.” Dating websites have caused controversy among today’s generation and past generations, but one thing is for sure-people today find attraction when meeting people online. But some people still argue how the internet can change who you really are. E-harmony tends to make the impression that everyone is a great person just innocently looking for love. As much as we would all like to agree, there have been cases where people have joined E-harmony for reasons other than love. Facebook and MySpace include just as much personal information, if not more day to day interaction. For example, on Facebook a “friend” can view your photos, your status updates, your “about me” information, the games you play, and even chat online with you. The biggest problem with websites like Facebook and MySpace is that they create attraction, but the main question to ask yourself is….Is the attraction created from these social networking websites fake or are you really “you” on Facebook?” . Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you view Computer Mediated Communication, having a computer screen in front of you allows a person to change their persona, in both positive and negative ways. Attraction may be found online because people tend to be more open in online settings. It is important to remember that lovers communicate intimate feelings they were too scared to say aloud on social networking and dating websites such as E-harmony, Facebook, and MySpace.

In life, everything has an opposite, and the opposite of attraction is repulsion. As much as social networking and dating websites create attraction and even possibly a false sense of “love,” social networking and dating websites also create a sense of repulsion. In a recent web-surfing session, I began reading different Formspring pages of my friends and simply acquaintances. On one Formspring page, I read “You’re a bitch. How do you feel about that?” This is just another example of how the internet empowers people to say things that they wouldn’t ordinarily say to someone’s face if they were standing in front of them. Another Formspring read, “You looked really ugly today. I bet it is driving you crazy that you don’t know who is telling you this shit.” The problem with these types of social networking sites telling people how much they repulse others is that some people actually take what is said to heart. Statistically, this has lead to suicide, a lack of self-confidence, and other physical or mental problems. Formspring, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Blogspot, email, and text messaging also leave room for miscommunication which may leave people with a false sense of repulsion. Something very innocent can be written in Computer Mediated Communication, but the meaning of what was said can become negative depending on the emotional state of the person reading it, where and what they are doing, and even if it is written without the little text message smiley faces that we all have grown to love. Repulsion and a false sense of repulsion are both created through Computer Mediated Communication.

Computer Mediated Communication is both a positive and negative aspect of everyday life. Social networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Formspring, and Blogspot create a “society” that people can socialize with each other, stay aware of other’s life situations, feel attraction, and also show the repulsion that many of us wish we could show when we are face to face with another human being. Dating websites like E-harmony have created true love, but have also torn people apart. Management is forever changed. Our supervisors now speak to us using their Blackberries and hold staff meeting via chat rooms as if we are playing a casual game of online checkers. But whether we approve of Computer Mediated Communication, it is a part of our lives that both fulfils and does not fulfill our basic relationship needs.