The Chosen One's Presentation of Chapter 2

1. The Chosen Ones Present
CHAPTER 2
CMC, Diffusion, and Social Theories

2. Contact List
Julian- (732) 770-3265 ariajuli@kean.edu
Gabrielle- (917) 974-9375 galega@kean.edu
Janelle- (609) 694-5740 hollajan@kean.edu
Adriana Moran - (973) 903-3599 moranad@kean.edu
Ihsaan Fleming- (973) 752-4561 flemingi@kean.edu

3. Identity
OInterpersonal communication researchers
developed Computer-mediated communication
(CMC) as a way to describe the digital nature
of mediated online communication
OCMC examines how identities and interaction
sometimes produce online communities.

4. Identity
OIn general, CMC addressed identity
formation, presentation, distribution and
other issues.
OEach of us has an online presence
expressed by what we choose to share
about others and ourselves

5. Internet History
O A 1960s military project called the Advanced Research Projects
Agency Network (ARPANET) by the United States Department
of Defense had a goal of connecting the east and west coasts of
the United States with instantaneous computer communication.
O ARPANET demonstrated that data could be divided into labeled
packets, sent and then reassembled, and this packet switching
model was also adopted as an efficient way to move messages
on the Internet.

6. Communication
The online community emerges development of individual social identities and realistic relationships
Research proves that older Internet users score higher on personal growth and life purpose than younger users
Usually the people online have “common characteristics” when communicating
Like the Facebook “Wall” and the Pinterest “Board”
Mediated interpersonal communication - develops when online communication begins to function as it would a face-to-
face environment.

7. Diffusion of New Ideas
In the United States, there has been dramatic growth of Internet and Social Media communication
Other countries are also dramatically adapting the United State’s uses of all Media
Social media was first used at home with a personal computer, and easy to use
There are five stages of innovative communication:
1. Awareness
2. Interest
3. Evaluation
4. Trial
5. Adoption

8. Social Network Site Definitions
O Web-based services that allow:
1. Construct a public/semi-public profile within a
bounded system.
2. Articulate a list of other users w/whom they
share a connection.
3. View their list of connections and those made
by others within the system.

9. SNS Characteristics
O Profile user pages (Demographic/
Psychographic Descriptions)
O Relationships (Friends, Followers, Contacts)
O Public connection displays (Form of
“Impression Management)
O “Self Presentation” (Serve as identity markers)
O Varying degrees of privacy through site/
settings

10. Interaction
O John Perry Barlow (A cyberspace Independence
Declaration)
O Suggested Governments should have “no sovereignty” over
“cyberspace” & its users
O “On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past leave us
alone”
O Idealistic view of online life to separate it from the physical
world.

11. Another Pioneer
O Howard Rheingold
O Observed: Virtual communities involve
creation of social groups and relationships
overtime.
O Social networks are dedicated to forming
and managing impressions.

12. Uses and Gratifications
Unlimited Range of Potential Use
Satisfaction and the Internet
Communication and the Internet

13. Online Culture and Power
Social media is reshaping our common culture
People use social media for:
Maintaining relationships
Maintaining current power
Try to gain new power

14. CMC and Social Media
Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)
CMC began decades ago through the birth of the internet
Earliest forms of CMC include email and discussion boards
Early concerns of CMC:
- A tool to recreate communities of interest online, its advantages and
limitations

15. CMC Disadvantages
Does not offer rich communication such as face to face interactions
Lack of understanding through CMC creates negative experiences known as
“flame wars” (online fights)
Have you ever engaged in an online fight due to a misinterpreted message?

16. CMC cont.
CMC has allowed people to overcome physical and psychological limitations
Negative communication consequences, however, have been related to a preference for online social
interaction, psychosocial depression, loneliness and problematic Internet use
Research has supported the idea that preference for online socialization is a key contributor to the
development of problematic Internet use
There appeared to be a significant relationship between psychosocial health and preference for online
socialization
In other words, CMC is a tool that may lead people with problems to take these into online environments,
rather than, as is often assumed, the negative effects being caused by online usage.

17. CMC and MMO’s
Research has studied the boundaries between game play and life in the formation
and maintenance of relationships and romance

18. CMC and the spread of Memes
CMC also helps us understand the spread of Internet memes, which are
“commonly applied to describe the propagation of content items such as jokes,
rumors, videos, or websites from one person to others” and “may spread in its
original form, but it often also spawns user-created derivatives”

19. Memes
In a process similar to genetic evolution, memes are thought to compete for
attention through imitation and iteration
1. Memes are understood as cultural information that passes along from person to
person, yet gradually scales into a shared social phenomenon.
2. They reproduce by various means of imitation.
3. They are interesting because of their diffusion through competition and
selection.
Although online users have freedom, research indicates the existence of cultural
boundaries.

20. Social Media and CMC Overall
A paradox may be found within social media that they may have both a tendency to
trigger silence on controversial issues, but users also may feel liberated to express
opinions
Spiral of silence theory, which suggests people assess climate of opinion before
responding, appears to be active within online public opinion
Examples??
CMC helps us to better understand online communication and the foundations of
social media. It also is a framework for understanding social media application in
fields, such as journalism, public relations, advertising and marketing

21. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
1. How has CMC influenced the way we form relationships? How may it blur the
lines between reality and fantasy?
2. How would a visualization of your social networks depict communication
patterns and relationships? How could this be used to influence future online
behavior?
3. Describe your favorite Internet meme: Why do you like it? How does it transfer
cultural understandings from one person to another?

22. Discussion Answers
1.Cmc has influenced the way we form relationships in the sense that we have the capability to form many relationships with people across the
globe in a short period of time. We can communicate at all hours of the day with anyone, anywhere. So we are able to communicate more frequently
but that doesn't mean the communication is genuine, because you don't always know who you are talking to
2. Personally, I do not use social media that much anymore to communicate with others and maintain relationships. Therefore, cmc relationships that
exist in my life are weak because I don't take the time to maintain them anymore. I prefer texting over communicating through social media.
Communication patterns based off of my social media would involve sharing videos with friends, reading news stories (whether hard news or social
news) as well as looking at pictures and images shared through social media. This probably could not be used to influence future online behavior
that much because based off of my using of social media, communication through social media seems to be a dying trend. People will only share
more videos and images rather than build and maintain relationships.
3. My favorite internet meme would have to be the ongoing feud between rappers Drake and Meek Mill. Drake has used his significant following and
social media presence to slander and jab at opponent Meek Mill. This ongoing feud has led to many back and forth diss songs and tracks, but the
best part of it all are the memes that it has produced. I believe it can possibly transfer cultural standings from one person to another in the sense
that, someone who may not have formed their own opinion of rapper Meek Mill may see these memes and instantly side with Drake, who is winning
the feud in terms of social media.