Interpersonal Communication and social media Chapter 2 Interpersonal Communication Tamara Arrington

Interpersonal Dynamics Online Speed the time it takes to send and receive messages Anonymity refers to identities created online, claiming to be someone you are not Interactivity the ability of online participants to not only receive messages, but to react to them Regard to be acknowledged as an individual

Interpersonal Dynamics Online Leanness or Richness Availability of nonverbal cues to clarify meaning Synchronous or Asynchronous Real-time or time delay Pros and cons? Permanence How long something exists and can be saved and stored Regard to be acknowledged as an individual

Consequences Disinhibition – more honesty, less caution and self-monitoring. What are the pros and cons? Hyperpersonal –accelerated discussion of personal topics and relational development beyond what normally happens face- to-face More relational opportunities – online dating, virtual communities, online support groups, education, benefits for those who are shy

Online Dating and Relationships One study found that both men and women lied online, but for different reasons; Women lied to protect themselves from men and men lied to protect their true identity so they could take greater risks with emotions online;

Online Dating and Relationships In online relationships, a person may think they know the other well, due to limited information Much of the relationship is created in the mind, to fill in for missing information

SUSTAINING & ENRICHING RELATIONSHIPS Texting – teens age 12-17 – average 60 texts per day 97% of texts are opened vs. only 22% of emails Facebook – What are the “rules” for use so you don’t jeopardize a relationship? Blogs – called “masspersonal” (inform everyone via a single blog) Skype and FaceTime - could interactions via these social media be even MORE effective than face-to-face (i.e. truly focusing on each other)

DRAWBACKS Superficial relationships – How many Facebook friends are truly friends? How many Twitter followers or those you follow? “Dunbar’s number” : We can only maintain about 150 relationships (10-15 close friends/family…circle of 35 strong contacts...+/- 100 with other meaningful connections) When is the last time you had a deep, meaningful, or transformative discussion over social media?

SOCIAL ISOLATION Correlation between lonliness and PREFERENCE for online social interaction Can stem from a lack of interpersonal skills Self-efficacy can grow with successful online interaction and positive feedback online HOWEVER these people can feel confirmed and respected online and yet disconfirmed offline

OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS… Relational deterioration: a partner spending inordinate amounts of time online , the mere presence of mobile devices can hurt face-to-face interaction Facebook use has emerged as a new predictor of divorce rate and spousal troubles. Why? Deception: “Catfishing” Has any one seen the TV show? Online surveillance, cyberstalking, cyberbullying (peaks in MIDDLE SCHOOL)

Will Online Interpersonal Communication Enhance or REDUCE Human Relationships? Online relationships often include fantasy, stereotypical, idealized images Will time online substitute for other forms of communication?

Enhancement or Attenuation One study finds that the Internet intensifies dispositions toward sociability or community involvement (DiMaggio, Hargittai, Neuman, and Robinson (2001); Another study finds that use of the Internet is influenced by local culture and power relations (Wheeler, 2001);

Social Uses of the Internet To meet people and create relationships To enhance relationships with family and friends To maintain long-distance relationships

SOCIAL SUPPORT Parenting advice Marital problems Substance Abuse Suicide Prevention Coping with acts of violence Connecting with others with similar health problems (20% of Internet users)

Some Effects of Interpersonal Communication Online Computer-mediated communication is similar to face- to-face communication, and may even affect how people communicate face-to-face There is often a casual sense of play in Internet communication There are often paradoxes associated with Internet communication Certain aspects of communication are intensified by Internet use

Effects of Speed, Reach, Anonymity, Regard and Interactivity We expect our communication technologies to be fast We are becoming obsessed with efficiency In spite of all the speed in communication technologies, many people feel they are running on a treadmill and cannot keep up with all that is coming at them

Reach In addition to your ability to reach others, reach also means that you can be reached just about anytime, anywhere The sense of constant connectedness, the speed of our messages, and the difficulty of keeping up with all the information reaching us, causes people to feel nervous and frustrated—to feel rage at times

Flaming Flaming refers to harsh language directed at an individual online The lack of social cues online due to the fact that generally we cannot see one another online, may contribute to flaming With reduced feedback, it is speculated, we can project our own hopes and fears The reduction in social cues may account for a tendency to be more disinhibited online, both in self disclosure and in aggression (the “disinhibition effect”)

Interactivity Interactivity refers to the ability to respond to messages so as to give feedback, e.g., flaming may be seen as expressing anger in speaking back;

Anonymity Not being identified as your self, or believing you are not identified as your self Some speculate that anonymity enhances the chances of expressing anger online—e.g., flaming

Influence on Family Families are affected by the Internet and the way they communicate on the Internet The computer appears to affect different family members differently Family members use the computer for entertainment, escape, habit, and to pass time

What ARE WE TO DO? Respect others’ need for undivided attention (i.e. put the phone away) Keep your tone civil Don’t intrude on bystanders Think before you post Verify what you see online Balance mediated and “face time”