Computer

Mediated
Communication

People use communications technology creatively to increase
the sense of social presence and strength its relationships.
 Social relationship represents connection, cooperation, and mutual
dependence and belonging between people. The importance of social
relationship is helped to create better understandings by enhancing human
interaction through communication in order to improve the quality of life.
 Communication plays a key role in improving social
interaction. Computer- Mediated Communication is the
process of human communication via computers to
exchange information and messages.

Communication technology is the channel to transfer

information and messages from senders to receivers
through public and private access . Communication
technologies are commonly viewed as internet ,
multimedia (advertising, broadcasting), BBS, e-mail.
 Effect of computer mediated communication on interpersonal communication

Kim (2002) defines interpersonal communication

as the interaction that takes the form of verbal and
nonverbal exchanges between two (or a small
group of) individuals, consciously aware of each
other, usually interacting in the same time and
space.
Social media has affected interpersonal
communication in many ways. Firstly, social media
allows instant messaging through the Internet
which can be accessed on any computer or mobile
device. With different applications like Facetime,
Skype and Viber, people can talk to peers, family,
or friends face to face as if they were in the same
room or even in groups, for example through group
chats or group video calling.
 Effect of computer mediated communication on intercultural communication

Lustig & Koester (1993) explain that intercultural

communication is a symbolic, interpretative, transactional,
contextual process in which people from different cultures
create shared meaning.
One of the main uses of social media is that it provides a
common forum for people to communicate and collaborate
and this facilitates intercultural dialogue. Social media has
also played an important role in the sharing of cultures.
 Social media like Twitter and Facebook overcomes
language barriers with the help of different translation
apps that allow people speaking different languages to
communicate their ideas and be understood, where
otherwise it would not have been possible. Carter
(2010) writes that in this way social media becomes a
place where cultural experiences of life are translated
into the universal language of humankind (Carter,
2010).
 In a corporate setting, multinationals can recruit
different professionals from all over the world as
required through social media websites like Linkedin.
Candidates can publish their resumes and work
experience on Linkedin and seek employment on a
global scale. In this way social media promotes
intercultural communication by establishing business
relationships (Chen, 2012).
 Another area where social media has affected interpersonal
communication is through intercultural adaptation. Chen
(2012) writes that immigrants or tourists can communicate
their experiences about their home or host country to
friends, relatives and even a general audience, and this has a
significant impact on the process of immigrants
intercultural adaptation . In this regard, Sandel (2014) finds
that a persons experience is enhanced through social media
because online communications help build socio-cultural
skills, informational needs, relational bonds, and
psychological well-being
 In addition, language has always played an important
role in the formation and expression of identity . Self
identity is expressed by the use of languages to
demonstrate ones emotion, thought and ideas.
Therefore, the uses of languages and emotional
icons are represented the communication and
relationship with others which are different from
face to face communication.
 For example, at the traditional communication, a smile action can simply
express good feeling to each other. Yet, online blogging, the emotional icons
are important to show responses to others, such as . The receiver will know
immediately that a smile or a good feeling is communicated.
 However, in the real communication, the interpersonal interaction is
immediately, people may use nonverbal languages (smile) to cover their true
feeling. Oppositely, in CMC environment, the invisible identity releases ones
true self by having a thought to click the emotional icon to show their
expression. As a result, the language is represented as a degree of interactive
engagement to affect social relationship and self-identity; and the emotional
icons can affect the interpretation of messages.
 The development of communication technologies
has impact on increasing the level of social
presence and strength the relationship. Using the
CMC has created better connection in
communication to increase social presence via
computers. Moreover, it shortens the
communication distances around the world to
improve better relationship in work, education and
culture aspect. In addition, online blogging also
helps people to communicate and connect with
others in releasing their true self and feeling.
 However, the increasing uses of communication
technologies have also post a concern to people in
face to face communication. Some people argue
that rely on CMC will reduce the communication
skills in real life communication.
In conclusion, the use of communication
technologies has benefited social presence and
builds up better social relationship. The balance of
using CMC as a complement and face to face
communication is needed in order to build up
stronger and better social life.