The Rise of Online Social Networks: New Ways to Connect and Communicate by Adrian
According to an article published by USA Today, on March, 9, 2009, “Social networks more popular than email” social networks and blogs have become more popular than emails among global internet users, and two thirds of the world’s online users report visitng social networking sites, such as Facebook. In addition, time spent on these sites is triple the rate than overall internet growth.We can’t get away from computers in our current society, they are a part of our culture, and are here to stay. Di Gennaro and Dutton (2007) noted that the growing popularity of online multi-player gaming, or the expansion of online social networking, such as Facebook and YouTube, which allows for users to contact each other, is likely to continue to reinforce internet usage patterns and the development of social networks.
As previously noted, USA Today reports that this has already occurred, as it noted that 67% of internet users in the U.S. visit social sites. The most popular social network site is Facebook, which is visited by three in ten people across world markets. With the growth of these social network sites, and the fast paced life style that is integrated into our culture through internet technology, some critics think this is not always a positive.
McKibben warned that we live in a vast information age, and that media technology, especially in contemporary society as it ties into CMC, is detrimental to our society in terms of information overload and interpersonal apathy. Gitlin (2002) further added that with more exposure to media images, television, and other media stimuli we are becoming more isolated and more likely to live in solitude.
Our world is complex, fast paced, information driven and perhaps, for many, social networking sites are the best alternative for people to feel more connected socially because of lack of time and its accessibility. Gitlin (2002) noted that Karl Marx wrote about the perils of capitalism and the constant ebb and flow of man in a consumer age stuck in mindless pursuits of goods. Gitlin (2002) added that this consumer age has fed into an endless stream of noise and chatter to appease the masses in our consumer society. Some may argue that the cell phone, internet, IM, social network sites, etc. are an extension of our consumer age and feed in into our frenzied world of constant noise and chatter, intrusively graphic visual imagery, and distractions that ultimately don’t benefit us.
Thurlow, Lengel, and Tomic (2004) noted that the internet is a fairly new, complex technology, but is being used for something very basic: communication. Some may argue that interacting on line is not as effective as meeting people in person, and forming traditional connections FtF. Thurlow et al. (2004) added that critics of Communication Mediated Technology (CMC) argued that the Reduced Social Cues (RSC) Model showed that without social cues, such as facial expressions and body language, CMC is more difficult and lacks flow and cohesion.
In addition, Thurlow et al. (2004) noted that some critics of CMC have expressed that the greater the use of the internet leads to declines in communication with family, decreases in social outlets or social circles, and leads to increases in depression and loneliness. If this is the case, as USA Today reports, why are more than two thirds of the world’s internet users accessing online social networking sites?
I will examine how and why people us internet technology as a way of staying socially connected and/or forming new social circles. In addition, this paper compares new forms of communication, (CMC) to traditional face to face (FtF) interaction and people’s preferred method, and investigates CMC’s overall effectiveness in communication.
Thurlow et al. (2004) argued that people don’t need FtF to feel a part of a group, and that it’s sometimes better for people not to engage physically/FtF because people will be less distracted by physical barriers, such as appearance; and many participants in online social groups feel a sense of belonging to social groups that are similar in interest, a support group, so to speak. Thurlow et al. (2004) added that more recent studies as it relates to CMC have shown that people do form deep, interconnected, online relationships, as many online relationships lead to FtF interaction and long lasting relationships.
One can find social network sites that integrate FtF communication time, such as Meetup.com or Yelp.com. Both of these sites include a message board, email options, review of restaurant option (as Yelp does) and other technical features that help people feel like a part of an online community. In addition, each site plans FtF group social activities, such as karaoke, workouts, or dinner outings.
Haythornthwaite (2005) conducted a study of online learners and traditional (in class) learners in a graduate program (School of Library and Information Science at the Univiersity of Illinois) over a four year period in randomly selected courses. She found in interviews with the distance learners that they felt very much connected to other students; some made friends, and reported having meaningful associations and working relationships even though they had limited FtF contact. In addition, many long distance learners felt a sense of belonging and affinity to the group as whole, as being part of a cohort of new incoming students in the program.
Haythornthwaite (2005) added that there wasn’t much of a difference in terms of group dynamics in either cohort. Perhaps those who seek to make connections would do so and seek social support in either of these environments. Those who are more independent, or even shy, may be more likely to not seek social connections in either environment (CMC or FtF) as well. Thurlow et al. (2004) had noted that prior research has cast CMC in a negative light, which has focused more on the technology and less on the process of communication in our everyday lives. Haythornthwaite (2005) also explained that the power of the internet, and its ability to help create connections between people where none existed, can’t be over looked.
Di Gennaro and Dutton (2007) explained that recent observations and research on the internet has examined the role of the internet in assisting people to build new relationships, both online and offline. Di Gennaro and Dutton (2007) added that this newer argument highlights the possibilities of the internet and its powerful use to reconfigure people’s social connections that improve the quality of one’s life in forming new friendships, otherwise not possible, without the internet.
A study conducted by Di Gennarro and Dutton (2007) interviewed over 2,000 online users in Britain age 14 and above. This study showed that roughly one-fifth of these respondents reported using the Internet to make new friends and change the dynamics of their social network. In addition, the study showed that half of those who made friends online also carried these relationships to off-line status and met in person.
This study reinforced that the internet is a powerful networking tool on and off-line, that change how and who we choose to forge social networks with (Di Gennarro and Dutton, 2007). In addition, Di Gennarro and Dutton (2007) noted that the internet is an influential mechanism to make new friends, expand one’s social network, and connect with people in many cases, one would never have the opportunity to communicate with, otherwise.
This is especially true with the recent popularity of Twitter. There are millions of people on this site, which is really mostly text messaging, with some features as posting blog pages and pics/videos. There are people from all over the world visiting Twitter, including celebrities who you might never get to interact with. In addition, Twitter allows for the opportunity to meet and interact with people for social and/or business networking.
Anecdotally, I have made some very good friends that were initiated via online social networking sites. In addition, I’ve met people for social activities, such as workout/exercise groups that have added value to my social network and improved my overall health. Furthermore, I’ve met people online and later offline for business networking purposes.
An additional criticism of CMC is that it’s not the same as FtF communication, and online relationships aren’t not comparable in that connections and relationships forged online are not real, rich, and as tangible as FtF interaction. Additionally, Thurlow et al. (2004) noted that critics of CMC also argued that the Reduced Social Cues (RSC) Model showed that without social cues, such as facial expressions and body language, CMC is more difficult and lacks flow and cohesion. In addition, Thurlow et al. (2004) added that because of the lack of these visual cues in communication, people are more likely to misread plain text communication, which causes confusion and miscommunication in this format.
This is becoming less of an issue in recent years because of advances in CMC technology that make it much more like FtF than ever before, allowing for more richness and depth, such as cam phones, video computer cameras, and advances in web/text technology such as Twitter or Facebook.
Most of us have evolved in this new technology age, and have adapted our responses and learned to interpret messages and information through CMC. And we may need fewer visual cues to communicate effectively, especially with the improvements in technology that have helped us become more three dimensional when we communicate online. In addition, again, with more advances in internet technology, which has made us more “organic” we are more and more becoming the Internet personality more true to us and who we are.
Kindred and Roper (2004) conducted focus group interviews of third year communication students at a small northeastern college about their use of CMC in their everyday lives. The study found that students were using Instant Messaging (IM) in their everyday lives to stay connected with family and friends, and that “sent messages” features, such as song lyrics or quotes were used to express their individuality and identity.
In addition, the study found that students used features, such as emoticons and emotext into their conversations to bring more richness and depth to their conversations. Furthermore, the study noted that students preferred IM to traditional methods of communication, such as telephone or FtF because IM is readily available and easily accessible. Kindred and Roper (2004) concluded that students seemed to rely on IM in their informal interactions with friends, and added this to be a positive as students use CMC to maintain and reinforce relationships.
I find this study very interesting, and I can see how college students would use IM to keep in touch with friends and family as college students lead busy lives. There may be various reasons why people want to connect online, some for information, some for dialogue and identifying with affinity groups, some for romance, some for business networking, some for entertainment and social reasons, etc. Again, as previously noted, in the last few years, technological advances are making, IMing, texting, chatting, posting, even faster and more intimate.
Websites such as Skype.com and other social networking websites have quick one on one chat speeds, which are pretty amazing. I think almost all chat services, such as Yahoo are capable of attaching a picture or even video, to the chat discussion, which makes chatting even more like FtF.
Utz (2007) conducted a study to measure communication choice (email or phone) in long distance friendships among Dutch and German adults. Utz (2007) found that email was the preferred method in long-distance friendships, followed by FtF, phone, and chat/IM. Email was only slightly higher than FtF, 31% to 27%, respectively, as the preferred method of communication. Utz (2007) was surprised that the immediate feedback and richness of FtF was not a factor in people choosing email to communicate in this study, and that this is most likely because of convenience and a more flexible time schedule for the recipient to respond to an email when given time.
As I have previously mentioned, the convenience of the internet allows for people to communicate at an appropriate time, and perhaps gives people time to formulate appropriate responses (as was the case in this study where people favored email over phone calls in long distance friendships).
Boucher, Hancock, and Dunham (2008) conducted a study among undergraduate college students to measure their ability to gauge emotionality and sensitivity in CMC and FtF formats/situations in regards to dominant and subordinate roles. Boucher et al. (2006) found that there was no difference in either group’s ability to decipher accurately interpersonal perceptions during CMC and FtF interaction. Boucher et al. (2006) added that this may be due to the set up of the experiment in terms of the roles played, and that recent studies have shown that people can accurately interpret emotional tone in CMC formats.
These results are not surprising, especially when conducting experiments testing college student’s abilities to interpret interpersonal perceptions using CMC. Today’s college students have gown up using CMC, and have probably adapted skill levels that would enable them to accurately interpret interpersonal perceptions on the same level as someone who is FtF in these situations.
As USA Today reported, the world’s internet users are accessing online social network sites, like never before. Some critics of CMC believe that it is not the most ideal form of communication, and can lead to our becoming more isolated, less social. And these critics also point to the lack of depth and human realism in CMC, as opposed to FtF. Perhaps, these critics do have some valid points here, and in some cases, people may tend to be less social if they spend all of their time online, and by doing so, don’t develop social skills necessary to effectively communicate, if all they do is communicate via CMC.
The other side of this argument, and one that may provide more balance, points to CMC as an additional outlet for people to connect and form social networks for various reasons and interests. Some studies discussed in this paper showed that people did use CMC to establish friendships, maintain friendships, and in many cases, eventually met people off-line. Furthermore, because of the convenience of CMC technology, many people preferred using these methods, such as IM or email, to phone calls, to stay connected with friends or family.
In addition, the studies noted in this paper also showed that people are adapting to using CMC in their everyday lives, and are able to use it to accurately interpret interpersonal perceptions, and reported that they felt deep, meaningful connections to people who they have only communicated with online—and were just as effective in their interaction as FtF.
Perhaps the right way to frame this argument is not so much how CMC can harm our society, or how wonderfully, limitless it is, but how we can use it to enhance our lives, not completely replace normal everyday FtF contact with friends and loved one’s. Even though the world has become faster, more complicated, and many of us suffer from sensory overload, people around the world, as USA Today reported, are accessing social network sites like never before.
It’s worth repeating what Thurlow et al. (2004) noted about technology and communication—the internet is a fairly new, complex technology, but is being used for something very basic: communication.
References
Baig, E. (2009). Social networks more popular than email. USA Today. Retrieved May
3, 2009, from http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2009/03/social-networks.html
Boucher, E. M., Hancock, J. T., & Dunham, J. P. (2008). Interpersonal sensitivity in
computer-mediated and face-to-face conversations. Media Psychology, Vol.
11, pp. 235-258.
Di Gennaro, C & Dutton, H. (2007). Reconfiguring friendships: social relationships
and the internet. Information, Communication, & Society, Vol. 10, No. 5, pp. 591-618.
Gitlin, T. (2002). Media unlimited: how the torrent of images and sounds overwhelms
our lives. Henry Holt and Company, LLC: NY.
Haythornthwaite, C. (2005). Social networks and internet connectivity effects.
Information, Communication, & Society, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 125-147.
Kindred, J. & Roper, S.L. (2004). Making connections via instant messenger (IM):
student use of IM to maintain personal relationships. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, Vol. V, pp. 48-54.
McKibben, B. The age of missing information.
Thurlow, C., Lengel, L. & Tomic, A. (2004). computer mediated communication:
social interaction and the internet. London: Sage.
Utz, S. (2007). Media use in long-distance friendships. Information, Communication, &
Society, Vol. 10, No. 5, pp. 694-713.
The Power of Words By Adrian
Fox News may never interview her, but she is one of the faceless Americans who made her voice heard loud and clear this past United States Presidential election. She’s Latina, 19 years old; her parents are immigrants from Guatemala, barely scraping by on what one can make with no formal education in a large urban city. She wants to obtain a higher education degree, and have a long, happy, healthy life, in a career that her parents will never have.She, along with millions of other young, Latino/a voters is the reason why Obama is the new President of U.S. Wikepedia.org noted that 68 percent of Latinos/Hispanics, and 67 percent of younger voters, 18 – 25, voted for Obama this past November.
I recently tuned into a Fox News telecast where an anchor was interviewing a gentleman who had written a book about how Obama won the election. He noted three things: younger voters, minority voters, and the well educated voted Democrat. And I agree with all of these points, and suspected the same. But the power of words; what scrolled across the bottom of the screen during this interview said: “Is Obama the Right Person at the Right Time?” As if Obama and his campaign had nothing to do with turning out younger, minority voters.
The anchor didn't discuss Obama's policies, ideas, philosophies, temperament, speaking ability, intelligence, etc. as a huge factor in why Obama won. In fact, the author noted that any Democrat would have won this past election. The Fox News anchor could have challenged him, but he chose not to. Postman (2002) noted that in the wrong hands, new technology can be dangerous, as only a small number of powerful elites may have a majority of access to these new technologies. In addition (Postman, 2002) added that the powerful, well connected elites control much of our modern technology and that media manipulates the masses with propaganda by damaging memory, history, and disseminates false information.
According to the movie, “Outfoxed” Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Media Enterprise reaches nearly five billion people, world wide. In addition, Gitlin (2002) explained that around the world, people spend significant amount of time watching T.V. and noted that in the United States, more people are watching more T.V. than in past decades, up to 40% in some studies. Gitlin (2002) further noted that media and the many forms of it in the 21 century, such as the Internet, have become the center piece and focal point in our culture and society. It would seem that now more than ever before in our information, technological driven society, we should be even more skeptical of the information we receive.
Postman (1992) added that when new technologies arise, and only a few elite control them, such as global news cable media outlets Fox News, these powerful news agencies can therefore control those who don’t have the resources or knowledge to benefit from it (new technology). It could be that Fox News knows the power of words and the power of new technologies to manipulate public thought.
Ong and Methuen (1982) explained that more than any other invention, writing, has transformed human consciousness, and that the written word can't be directly or immediately questioned, as oral speech because of its detachment from the author. The power of words, "Is Obama the right person at the right time?" Ong and Methuen (1982) added that an author can be challenged only if he or she can be reached, and there is no direct way to refute text." Herman and Chomsky (1988) might argue that a textual comment on a scroll screen during a news channel that has political overtones is a cheap ploy at media manipulation and political agenda setting.
The movie “Outfoxed” noted how Fox News uses fancy technological computer graphics, and other media technology to shock their audience into paying attention to what they deem as serious news stories, such as the recent “tea parties” supposedly put on by random citizens who were fed up with “taxes” and what not. Fox News even redefined the main message of these events several times. I still don’t think anyone really knew what the main point of these protests was, especially when 95% of Americans are receiving a tax cut this year. Through the magic of technology, Fox News broadcasted these “tea parties” live from multiple locations around the country.
This kind of coverage and promotion by Fox News made these tea parties seem news worthy where millions of people participated. This was not the case. The USA Today reported that thousands participated in these events, hardly worthy of the kind of coverage that Fox News gave it. Especially when you consider that there are over 300 Million people who live in the United States. Even if it was the estimated one million people who attended, as has been reported by its organizers, that would still be less than one percent of the population. It seemed that the other news outlets did not cover this story because it was not newsworthy.
As previously noted, Fox News and other main stream media outlets don’t report on stories about the faceless and nameless, such as the heroic efforts of the many volunteers who feed the homeless in Philadelphia, as the video “Table for Six” showed. In many cases, as noted by Postman, media and its new technological advances are controlled by a small number who use this technology to redefine realities, promote agendas, generate profits and ignore stories that don’t fit these criteria.
References
Busby, L., Gilliam, J., McArdle, K., & Smith, D. (Producer) & Greenwald, R.A.
(Director). (2004). Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on
Journalism. [Motion picture]. United States: The Disinformation Company.
Gitlin, T. (2002). Media Unlimited: How the Torrent of Images and Sounds Overwhelms
Our Lives. Henry Holt and Company, LLC: NY.
Herman & Chomsky (1988). Manufacturing Consent. NY: Panthean.
Ong & Methuen (1982). Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word.
Oren, D. (2009). Thousand Rally at Tax Day Tea Parties. USA Today. Retrieved April
25, 2009, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-15-tea-parties_N.htm.
Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Vintage
Books: NY.
The United States Presidential Election, 2008. Wikepia.org. Retrieved April 25, 2009,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008.
