1) The document discusses how online social networks are used by 940 million people to connect and maintain social relationships, which significantly impact health and well-being. It examines how everyday online interactions through sites like Facebook and Twitter may affect the average user's well-being. 2) A survey of Twitter users found that direct, reciprocal interactions improved well-being by making people feel more recognized, connected, and appreciated. Users also felt comforted knowing someone may respond to their tweets in the future. 3) Even though online contacts may be strangers, people perceive them as similar and relationships as supportive. A lack of context forces people to develop positive views of each other. The online environment could be designed to facilitate interactions that

1. Reconceptualizing Online Interactions: Unpacking the Purpose and Effects of
Mediated Communication
Action for Happiness | Lauren Wagner
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Background: 940 million people are members of at least one online social network. These
networks are designed to forge and maintain ties between individuals. Social relationships are one
of the most well documented factors influencing physical and mental health outcomes and
definitively impact our happiness and well-being.1
Although studies have examined the effect of
Internet use on health, they almost exclusively target the ill, or those who seek out others to
alleviate distress (a mechanism known as social support.)
But what about everyone else? If interpersonal interactions are integral to our well-being and
940 million people use online social networks to connect, how do online exchanges affect the
average user? Furthermore, how can we optimize everyday online interactions to enhance health?
Research should examine companionship (leisurely online interactions undertaken for the sake of
enjoyment) to advance the development of online social networks and facilitate positive outcomes.
Although companionate interactions may seem insignificant, they provide the same benefits as
those associated with social support and serve to enhance and maintain well-being over an
extended period of time.2
Average users regularly engage with Facebook, Twitter, and Google chat,
among others, in online companionate interactions.
Why should we be concerned with the well-being of average users? The Internet may be used to
link individuals in a way that inspires them to “harness the power of connectedness in everyday
life,” lead more productive lives, and enhance commitment to community.
Findings: Hypotheses were tested through an online survey of Twitter users and included (1)
whether reciprocal online interactions could improve well-being and (II) whether the mere
knowledge that an interaction might occur in the future would boost well-being.3
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"!The benefits of social relationships include: Lowered levels of distress; decreased mortality; increased feelings of
security and self-worth; a heightened sense of belonging and positive affect; a source of regulation for maintaining
healthy behaviours; as well as enhanced social participation and commitment to community.
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#!Companionship is known to be the strongest predictor of loneliness; can provide small boosts in happiness that
maintain users’ self-esteem over an extended period of time; and may contribute to greater resilience and optimism,
thus shaping how we perceive the world. A lack of pleasurable activities has also been implicated in the onset of
some psychological disorders.
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3
The Twitter survey included psychological metrics traditionally employed to measure perceived social support and
companionship.

2. Results emphasized the importance of individual perception in promoting health benefits through
online interactions. Even though subjects reported that they do not know their Twitter contacts in
real life, they perceived these people to be highly similar to themselves. Direct interactions with
Twitter contacts boosted well-being; subjects felt more recognized, connected, and appreciated
when someone reacted to their tweet.4
Users were also comforted by the fact that when they
tweet, someone in their Twitter network might respond. Twitter use increased feelings of
connectedness, is considered an outlet to express ideas, and interactions were found to be
stimulating and rewarding.
Perception is integral to well-being. For example, if someone moves to a new location, their well-
being is not enhanced by the objective number of friends they have in their new neighborhood,
but rather by the subjective number of friends they think they possess. Twitter interactions are
perceived relationships; subjects believe another user has deciphered their tweet and deemed it
important enough to retweet and share with their Twitter network, resulting in boosts to well-
being, which may or may not be accurate. Additionally, a lack of contextual cues forces users to fill
in any information deficits; research has shown that online, people are inclined to create positive
views of one another and develop exaggerated impressions of conversation partners. The online
environment may be manipulated so that average users perceive activities to be supportive or
companionate even if they are not intended as such.5
Recommendations:
! Take advantage of “imagined” friendships: Connect individuals who do not know one
another but may have some commonalities (i.e. reside in the same community, work in the
same industry, etc)
o Feeling connected to a larger community and stimulation are integral to well-being
o Facilitate direct interactions between users
! Positive feelings cultivated through online interactions may be channeled toward beneficial
activities
o “Transient happy moods lead people to seek out others and engage with the
environment to be more venturesome, more open, and more sensitive to other
individuals.” (Lyubomirsky et al 2005)
! Remain conscious of the amount of information revealed: A lack of cues forces users to fill
in information deficits in a way that enhances relational outcomes, which is beneficial for
well-being
! Configure and employ social media as a force for good
o By the year 2030, depression will be the largest social and economic burden on
societies worldwide. While some types of depression cannot be prevented, less
severe cases may be brought on by feelings of loneliness
o Facilitate direct online interactions, which can produce small boosts in happiness
that maintain well-being above an average level of contentedness
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$!Respondents stated that using Twitter makes them feel more connected to a larger community (62%), is considered
an outlet to express ideas (68%), and interactions are a source of stimulation and rewarding (68%.)
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%!Although most users did not feel a boost in well-being when they tweet, 64% reported a boost when their tweet is
acknowledged by another user. This implies that direct interactions enhance health, rather than one way engagements
with their networks. However, in order for an individual to benefit from the interaction, they must have a baseline level
of respect for their conversation partner. For example, if a user retweets my post and I report feeling recognized and
appreciated, I assume that the contact interpreted my tweet and deemed it important enough to share with his own
Twitter network. This process is largely perceived in the mind of the user. !