Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC)

Source: http://dev.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=1001

What is communication to you? According to Carroll (1958), communication refers to a social interaction in which the message conveyed to an individual could decrease the person’s level of uncertainty. Meanwhile, McShane, Olekalns and Travaglione (2013) define communication as a transmission of information which causes mutual understanding from both parties regarding a particular subject. From these two definitions, communication is basically about transferring of message from one party to the other.

Communication constitutes a huge part of our life, it’s inevitable. As do all social creatures, we humans would naturally seek out interaction with others and just well, communicate. However, what we want to put into focus here is the kind of communication that distinguishes us from other social creatures which is Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). It should go without saying that most of our communications today are done through the use of computer and honestly, why wouldn’t it be? The existence of the computer has really made our life easy most especially in the communications aspect. With access to the Internet, we can communicate with the people who are thousands of miles away from us – not only through written words but also through face-to-face interaction. How amazing is that! The benefit of using CMC is further proven with its incorporation in education nowadays. Speaking from our experience as students, the learning process in the class is so much better when the lecturer uses computer-based teaching methods like slides, videos and audios.

Source: https://paolaespino.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/computer-mediated-communication-an-observation-of-gender-in-chat-rooms/

            However, like every other luxury, overuse of CMC will also bring about disadvantages. According to the social presence theory, the use of CMC limits the transfer of nonverbal message, depending on the number of cue systems available (Walther, 2011). We agree with this opinion. Although communication through computers are rather enjoyable and much more convenient, simple gestures or inner thoughts which could have possibly been expressed if we were to talk face to face with another person cannot be expressed, at least not with the same efficacy, when we communicate through CMC. For example, when we are confused of what our lecturer intended in an email, the lecturer did not know how clueless we are as he or she could not see our facial expression. Other than that, we also could not detect an individual’s normative behaviour when we communicate through computer (Walther, 2011). This refers to the lack of social context theory which we find is really true. When we view a person’s profile in any social media, we could not guess his or her characteristics. Is she independent? Is he hot-tempered? Is he lazy? Well, we do not know! We only know what he or she chooses to show, but the real identity is a mystery that is yet to be unveiled via in-person communication.

            To wrap things up, CMC has both its goodness and badness. It really depends on the individual on how to use CMC wisely. Maybe just like many other good things in the world, moderation is always the right move.

           

References

Carroll, J. B. (1958). Communication Theory, Linguistics and Psycholinguistics. Review of

Educational Research, 28(2), 79-88

McShane, S., Olekalns, M. & Travaglione, T. (2013). Organisational behaviour. New South

Wales, Aus: McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd

Walther, J. B. (2011). Theories of computer-mediated communication and interpersonal relations. In M. L. Knapp & J. A. Daly (Eds.), The Sage handbook of interpersonal communication (4th ed., pp. 443-479). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.