Chapter 14: Communicating Through Social and Interactive Media

Media Sensitivity

The awareness that media possess

characteristics that affect their appropriateness and effectiveness

in specific contexts.

Interactive Media

Any mediated form of communication. Uses digital electronic storage. It can be sent to one or many.

Media Characteristics

• Some lack the capability of nonverbal cues

• Some are asynchronous in nature

• Media richness theory

Media richness theory

Information carrying capacity. Face-to-face is most rich, text messages are least rich

Social presence

Degree of psychological closeness or immediacy engendered by

various media.

Social Process

type of self presentation and self disclosure allowed in

that type of media

Collapsing contexts

In social media, not knowing exactly who is reading one’s posts.

Spreadability

The ease with which content can be spread on

social media.

Managing Identity

• Impression management through self-presentation online

  • Standard information – name, gender, profile picture

  • Sensitive personal information – email address, birthday, employer,

    curated photos

  • Potentially stigmatizing information – religious views, political

    views, sexual orientation, all photos

Anonymity

Removal of any Identity

pseudoanonymity

false projection of identity

Three issues between anonymity and online identity

• Informative aspect of the identity

• Anonymity provides capacity to liberate speech

• Freedom may lead to less responsible communicators

Consequences of anonymity and pseudoanonymity

• Cyberbullying

• Deception

Friendship development through CMC

• Increased field of available people to connect to

• Hyperpersonal relationships

• Relationships through interactive media overcome limits of

  time and space

Relationship Development through CMC

• Finding similar others

• shared purpose and information

• Achieving intimate exchanges

• revenge porn, catfishing

How can IM affect work relationships

Technologies have improved people’s ability to do their jobs

How can IM affect superior-subordinate communication

Areas of concern in the workplace such as status and boundary issues, surveillance issues, confidentiality issues

How can IM affect peer communication?

Lack of information about colleagues if just interact online.

Digital divide

Inequity of access between the technology

“haves” and “have nots.”

Cultural capital

Cultural knowledge and cultural competencies

that people need to function effectively in society.

Technocapital

Access to technological skills and resources.

Multimodality

The range or breadth of Internet activities.

Digital readiness

People’s preparedness and comfort in using

digital tools for learning.

Reducing Digital Inequalities

What Keeps People Offline?

Mental access

motivation and access