New Media and Interpersonal Communication

Flashcards covering vocabulary related to new media evolution, interpersonal communication concepts, impression management, and digital nonverbal cues.

Computer-mediated communication

The study of how people would interact via computer, which was the focus of early studies in communication technology.

New media

An updated version of mass media that includes computers and phones, allowing the ability to reach either a small or large group of people.

Media richness

The degree in which specific media replicate the interaction of an in-person face to face interaction.

Mass media

The use of content sharing through controlled outlets like television networks, radio stations, and publishing companies.

Masspersonal communication

The blending of interpersonal and mediated communication where people use media as a way to unlock presentational forms of communication.

Parasocial relationships

The relationships that we form through social media, including connections with celebrities, characters, or people seen only virtually.

Impression Management

The act of carefully choosing what to post online to control how others view them, often highlighting only the best parts of one's life.

Airbrushing

Digital image editing that creates unrealistic standards and impacts self-esteem; formerly limited to media professionals.

Context Collapse

Occurs when content meant for one group is seen by another, leading to misunderstandings due to different perspectives or expectations.

Permanence

The characteristic of online messages where they can be stored, saved, or shared long after they are sent, making mistakes harder to forget.

Facework

The effort put into protecting one's reputation in public, which is pressured by online communication where many people can witness actions.

Conflict Escalation

The tendency for social media users to argue more aggressively due to distance, visibility, and lack of face-to-face consequences.

Data Mining

The automatic collection and analysis of digital behavior, such as likes and messages, to create detailed user profiles sold to advertisers.

Psychographic Profile

A data-based snapshot of interests, habits, and values used to predict and influence how a user will respond to specific messages.

Table of Demographics

The grouping of people by traits like age or income, as opposed to psychographics which focus on mindset and behavior.

Expanded Memory

The capability of digital tools to store every interaction, including texts and clicks, making communication traceable and permanent.

Channel Richness

The degree of face-to-face cues, like tone and body language, which are typically reduced in digital media.

Conversation Management

The skill of juggling multiple online and offline conversations while navigating expectations of responsiveness.

Emoticons/Emojis

Icons created to digitally replace nonverbal cues like facial expressions and tone to clarify emotional intent in text.

Denotative Meaning

The literal definition of a word, which can easily be misread or lost in digital messages when slang is used.

Text Speak

Abbreviated codes such as LOL, BRB, and TTYL used to save time and space in digital messaging.

Chronemics

The sense of time in communication, which has shifted to often being asynchronous rather than real-time due to mobile access.

Proxemics

The study of physical distance, which matters less in digital communication as networked connectivity replaces physical proximity.

Tethering

The feeling of being constantly attached to a device, where phones are viewed as essential parts of identity and connection.

Kinesics

Body movement and interaction which adapt to new environments like home offices as digital media replaces physical items.

Vocalics

Expectations around sound, such as talking out loud in public, as the value of shared silence in spaces like libraries loses priority.

Haptics

The use of touch in communication, specifically related to the dexterity required for touchscreen navigation.