3. Identity
- Interpersonal communication researchers
developed Computer-mediated
communication (CMC) as a way to describe
the digital nature of mediated online
communication
- CMC examines how identities and
interaction sometimes produce online
communities.
4. Identity
- In general, CMC addressed identity
formation, presentation, distribution and
other issues.
- Each of us has an online presence
expressed by what we choose to share
about others and ourselves
5. Internet History
- 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.
- 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.
