Computer-Mediated Communication BLOG

Self Disclosure is something that each of us engage in when we’re getting to know someone for the first time, however this process can be quite different with regards to online communication. In many forms of media there is a definite lack in verbal and nonverbal cues that are normal present in more conventional forms of communication. Theories behind this suggest that more similarity is actually assumed with the absence of these cues and people are more likely to identify with individuals than they would be in an in-person setting. Also what one person may get out of one form of media can be drastically different than another person who has more experience with it. For an avid snapchat user, that mode of communication will be much more rich for them than someone who is relatively new. Another aspect of online communication is how the individual views themselves, and this can actually be quite arbitrary depending on the individual and how they wish to present online, and...

Snapchat has become a popular communication tool among people – especially teenagers and young adults.  In 2017, 70% of young adults ages 18-24 were using Snapchat and 41% of people ages 25-34 were using Snapchat (Burns, 2017).  This new and unique way of communicating is changing the way we form, maintain, and end relationships.  Snapchat might be increasing the amount of communication among us, but is it increasing the quality of our relationships?  Teenagers are in constant communication with one another, sending images of their surroundings back and forth with no text and little thought behind the images.  Many teenagers also maintain daily Snapchat communication with their friends simply to maintain their ‘Snapchat streaks.’  Snapchat streaks count the number of consecutive days a pair of friends sends each other images on Snapchat.  Looking at a teenager’s list of Snapchat streaks might indicate that they have a...