Offline networks vs. online networks

Through the challenge to define the differences between online and offline networks, the terms “nonymous” spaces and “anchored” identities have entered our vocabularies to help define the nature of our identities in varying networks. Nonymous spaces, refers to spaces that are online but not anonymous. Anchored identities are those connected to the corporeal world and such connected to our physical being.

Fixed vs. flexible networks

“Fixed” and “flexible” are opposing traits found on either end of a continuum which are used to describe networks and selves. Rather than providing two strict categories, the continuum allows for networks to fall somewhere between the two, as many share both flexible and fixed traits. To determine the flexibleness or fixedness, we consider how severely an audience impacts the users behaviour, as well as a networks degree of corporality (how material its existence is), anonymity (how anonymous it’s users are), and the stability of identity performances (stability of a users network traffic).

Flexible network traits:

• The individual can easily have different and multiple identities & Communicators come and go with little social repercussion
• Audience is more interested in the content than the users “real” identity
• Easier to portray yourself as someone you aren’t
• Examples: Yik-Yak, Omegle, Reddit  

Fixed network traits:

• Based on corporeal connections where the users true identity is known, thanks to their connections, interests, and initial setup of their page.
• Difficult to present yourself as a different identity
• The position of the user is fixed to their particular network position regardless where communication happens (face to face, SNS, via the phone, etc).
• Harder to portray yourself as someone you aren’t
• Examples: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat

Challenges in flexible networks

Flexible networks have been largely criticized for their anonymous platforms which give users an inflated sense of power that opens doors to cyber-bullying and hate crimes. Behind the protection of a computer screen users can choose to be their very worst selves, or use the platform to break societal barriers of physical appearance and be their very best.

While these challenges exist, The warranting theory argues that people are skeptical of the online presentations of others because they are aware that it is easy to manipulate. The more flexible a network becomes, the more aware people are that the content created is less valuable and reliable due to how easy it is to fabricate one’s identity.

Emily Gioskos – 500701317

CMC Apprehension

People can encounter difficulties with communication competence which can lead to communication apprehension, “an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons” (McCroskey 1977, 78) (28).

Apprehension can alter competence by two methods. The first method is that personal connections can be through online networks, making the person feel uncomfortable. Or, the second method is that people adapt to CMC because it’s a straightforward approach to communicating and there no need for face-to-face conversations. CMC does correlate with degrees of communications apprehension. For example, people that show a higher degree will prefer to utilize technology to address criticism instead. 

Researchers decided to revise the definition of communication apprehension to combine the perceptions about anxiety, especially connecting with society while using technologies. People that do not like to communicate will have fears toward CMC and will tend to refrain themselves from using it. Such as not accepting new formats of telecommunications; staying away from instant messaging like Facebook or emails. There are few chances that they will resort to it for comfort, closeness, and socialization. As a result, these individuals will barely have social objectives, and if they want to improve this concern, learning information about these technologies will help. 

CMC and Social Skill Deficits 

Research has shown that internet consumption has significantly grown in the past years as socializing can happen online. People that are sociable and exhibit greater social skills are most likely to have more friends on online platforms. Having an online presence can enhance offline communication competence. 

Folks that favour isolation will likely to spend more time on the internet. Online interactions will give them a sense of comfort and reassurance. These folks will give in effort in making online friends using social platforms instead of making friends through personal contact. It is also shown that children that display this behaviour will grow up choosing online than offline interactions. 

Conclusion 

In today’s society, keeping multiple networks with people is the key to being able to communicate efficiently. Everyone must have the motivation to obtain skill and knowledge that allows us to cooperate.

Flora Cao 500811642

As the online world keeps expanding, it is important for those who take part in it, to posses different kinds of digital literacies. Graphic, technical, and navigation literacy all fall under the category of operational literacies, which is “the user’s ability to actually use the tools and hardware necessary to use a computer and other devices” (20) On the other hand, there is information literacy which is “the ability to obtain and understand the content that is being delivered through online channels.” (20) Information literacy requires reading abilities (you must be able to read in order to understand most of the content found online), as well as the ability to assert the credibility of message sources. This includes putting information into context (such as spotting if an image has been photoshopped) and being able to identify what kind of information is reliable or not. Meaning that one must have the ability to differentiate from fake news, satire and information that is actually based on evidence.

Both operational and information literacy are very important in order to navigate the online world but they are not enough. Users must also be able to understand interpersonal processes (like you would with face to face interactions) but behind the screen. This requires users to choose appropriate mediums for the message or content they would like to share, as well as understand their audience and the kind of reactions they may receive.

There are multiple media platforms to choose from, whether it is voice calls, video conferences, text messages, direct messages, email, etc. Users must choose among them, based on the particular task they would like to accomplish and what they would consider to be must appropriate way of doing so. For example, for something work related, you are more likely to send a formal email to your manage instead posting on their Facebook profile or leave a comment on their latest Instagram post. The way these platforms are used also depends on the user’s age, gender, personality etc. For example, teenagers are more likely to use Instagram as a part of their everyday lives, whereas their parents may strictly use it to share their family photos with close friends. These examples of the appropriate uses of media platforms can also be known as the social norms that users have developed for them.

Along with media platforms is the audience. Users are able to choose who sees what and that is due to the different kinds of relationships formed online. There is the standard one to one but there is also one to many (vloggers, influencers) and also, many to many, which can be seen through Instagram. For example, you can comment on someone’s photo and whoever follows that person will be able to see your comment and reply back if they please; This can also be termed masspersonal communication. That is why it is so important to keep in mind who your audience is before posting something. Content that may not be offensive to somebody, may be very offensive to someone else.

Another key idea that helps us understand the uses of the online world is media richness, which is made up of “the number of verbal and non verbal cues that can be transmitted through the medium, the speed at which feedback can be made available, the range of meaning that could be conveyed with symbols and, how well messages can be adapted to the current and changing needs of the the receiver” (22-23) Email is considered to be a rich media platform because it is text based and it allows for fast back and forth replies. Twitter, on the other hand is not considered rich because it limits users to 140 characters, but users are able to “hack” the system by being able to include links to larger content or even images and videos. It is important to keep in mind that just because a media outlet is considered rich, it does not mean it the most popular. When looking at the examples presented, even though email is considered rich, Twitter remains more popular among users. Furthermore, the reading describes the Theory of Niche as “media being able to fulfill specific niches where a medium’s characteristics may amplify or attenuate the opportunities for deriving gratification from the medium” (24) As the definition can be a little bit confusing, an example of it would be seen through both email and text messages fulfilling the niche of keeping information from a short message for later use (it can be accessed when ever the user wants) but the main different between these, is that email is more likely to be formal messages and text messages will probably take place among friends.

What do you guys think of all the terms presented? Is there anything you disagree with? Is there any other examples that come to mind?

Laura Camacho Morales 500831127

• “CMC is based from skills compared to technical knowledge (Wrench-Carter 2007).”  
• Skills is known as the ability to expertise in a specific section and excel in it

Four skills related to CMC message production

Attentiveness

• Concerning and assuring that the messages are distinctively made for a specific set of audience.
• Communication is effective when the receiver is viewed as a unique individual
• Being able to adapt and learn the culture of community can improve the communication skills
• Going against social media norms will trigger members to disconnect with the network.

Interaction Management

• Focused on the formation, frequency, and timing of interactions amongst parties.
• Timing:
• Synchronous channels: Individuals which need quick replies have high awareness of how long it takes the other party to reply.
• Asynchronous channels: Individuals which are not aware on how long they must take when replying.
• “Any person which go against their norm of their social network is considered inadequate (Williams 2010)”

Expressiveness

• How friendly and open individuals are through online channels.
• Ways individuals interact through non-verbal communication
• 1. Paralinguistic: Texts which individuals use in social networks.
• 2. Lexical surrogates: Text without any tone
• 3. Emoticons: Using the text to create figures or faces.

Composure

• Focused on “how much confidence is shown through the individuals online communication (Spitzberg 2006).”
• Having grammatical and spelling errors in a published work online, may have the individual come off inadequate. 
• Individuals need to communicate based on the norms of each platform, and do according to what is most appropriate in each section.

Melisa D’Almeida-500768803

In chapter 3, we learn that “communication technologies affect the enactment of identity by modifying the way that we perceive and are perceived by networked audiences” (33). We can define “identity” as performances of oneself, tailored for a specific audience. Additionally, “the process of identity performance” is defined as controlling how one is perceived by other people. According to scholars, “identity performances are collaborations between [oneself] and the audience or network” (33).

A symbolic interactionist is a person that argues that oneself is communicated to the audience through the actions of others. A related concept is “the looking glass self”, which suggests that identity performances reflect (to others) your identity that is given by (the same) others. In other words, “what people believe about themselves is derived from the messages of the network members” (34).

Another important term to note is “the generalized other”, which is the presumed attitude of one’s entire community. Consequently, people can take what they think the generalized other expects of them and use it to understand themselves and craft their identity performances. This is the dramaturgical perspective, it argues that people act according to the expectations of a generalized audience. Sociologist Erving “Goffman (1959) argued that the self is a performed character, a dramatic representation constructed from any activity on the part of the actor that influences others’ opinion of that individual” (34). He also argued that people strive to achieve and maintain a well-received performance. Notably, his work is influential because social online spaces provide a “stage” for the management of identity performances.

As previously noted, since “identity performances are [created] for particular audiences, a self may articulate different facets of self for different segments of their network” (34). Sociologist David L. “Altheide (2000) [argues] that how we are known to others “crystallizes the essence of identity” (4) and invokes a metaphorical idea of identity as a growing, multi-faceted entity” (35).

“The structure of communication technologies can influence the way identity performances are expressed and received or as Goffman (1967) would phrase it, the way performances are given and given off” (35). Performances given is the way performance cues are transmitted through verbal and nonverbal messages. “Posts, pictures, and comments are presented and archived to provide others with a sense of the personality of the curator (the self)” (36). Whereas, performances given off refers to how identity performances are received by the audience (other members of the social network). These “performances may be interpreted differently due to the number and scope of the potential message cues that are available” (36). For example, how Twitter restricts the amount of text in a tweet and how Facebook allows and encourages longer posts, pictures, and video. In these instances, audiences are the co-members of a network that might view an identity performance.

Areya Soukthala, 500814801

• To be a competent communicator, you must have a desire to be one
• There are extrinsic (external rewards that people think they’ll receive) and intrinsic (internal satisfaction from doing so) reasons to do so. 
  • These motivators are intertwined 

When Competence doesn’t motivate:

When lack of motivation to be liked can lead to perceptions of incompetence 

• When people are motivated to communicate competently, they want to seek knowledge and skills to use technology to foster interpersonal connections
  • There can be other motivational goals too when people are in online communities and are in an anonymous space 
    • Expression
    • Entertainment 
    • Disruption 
• Online disinhibition effect occurs when people communication online in way they wouldn’t offline 
  • Can be benign or toxic
    • Benign disinhibition 
      • When anonymity lets people be okay with expressing emotions and other things they wouldn’t be other wide
    • Toxic inhibition
      • When people use the anonymity to be cruel, threatening, rude or critical 

• Trolling
  • When people create fake profiles with the goal to disrupt social communications,
  • All they really want is a reaction because they like causing pain onto others 
  • Harmful to online communities because they are motivation to be harmful 

• Flaming
  • It’s a hostile communication that violates the community or interpersonal norms of that space
    • Aggression
    • Hostility 
    • Profanity 
  • It is driven by a lack of motivation to meet the norms of an online space 

Eesha Arshad, 500640158