assignment #5 : option 1

Long distance relationships are very difficult and with the use of mediated communication this uneasy feeling of discomfort is alleviated. Without the freedom and ability to physically see and touch that person, the next best alternative is through the use of mediated communication. I personally am involved in a long distance relationship and knowing that my boyfriend and I are able to use webcam, chat online, and talk over the phone allows for our relationship to still be intact and grow. McKenna’s relationship facilitation factors provide ways in which people, such as myself, use different means to communicate to our significant others, how we chose these means, and the outcomes that are associated with them. Although my boyfriend and I did not meet in a chat room, a social networking site, or any other online site, we now rely on such sites to keep in touch with one another. Like any person in a relationship, whether online or in person, people have the ability to choose what they self-disclose to others and how they selectively present themselves. McKenna describes this as Interactional control. Joinson believes that self disclosure is greater in computer mediated communication as opposed to being face to face. Online, people are in “visual anonymity”, not in the same space as the other person, and have the time to think of what they want to present and how they want to present it (which is also supported by the Hyperpersonal model). In addition, Joinson states as public self decreases and private self increases, a person’s degree of self disclosure will be greater. I personally use webcam a lot and by doing this I am experiencing public self awareness as I am being watched and thus have an increased awareness of how my boyfriend is viewing me. Here I am less likely to have higher levels of self disclosure as there are more visual cues to be seen which ultimately affects what is said. On the other hand, I am privately self aware when we are just chatting online. I am aware of myself and not pressured with nonverbal cues. Even if I wasn’t in a long distance relationship and was at home, I would tend to still use mediated sources first to make sure I get all my feelings out, especially when dealing with a bad situation. McKenna also describes people connecting to similar others. We tend to be attracted to people that we share common beliefs with, share the same goals with, and share similar interests with. Even if you and this person are hundreds of miles from each other, this doesn’t matter as a connection doesn’t always need to be a physical one in order to share these commonalities. Social networks, like Facebook, Myspace, chat rooms, or by instant messaging, people are able to build and keep relationships. Wallace’s “common ground” principle also applies here as people are attracted to one another through shared beliefs. By chatting online, my boyfriend and I are still able to share our common interests with each other and sometimes new ones are developed. Although long distance relationships, online relationships, or what have you are sometimes hard, people are able to maintain them through the use of mediated sources like the internet. :)