Table of content
Impacts of computer-mediated communication on interpersonal
Effects of computer-mediated communication on intercultural communication
Oral communication has developed gradually from ancient periods through different forms and means. Initially, oral tradition was the important primary form of communication since the technology was apparently remote; thus, it was regarded as the earliest media although as compared to modern means, digital communication, it was curbed by numerous challenges in the conveyance of accurate information. However, in the course of the period, people have transformed from tablet writing simultaneously initiating some printed products such as papyrus then electronic devices hence embracing the current digital form of communication.
Despite the aspect of early of communication to involve in face-to-face communication, traditional conversation constituted several shortcomings which have been eradicated by the present technological communication through the use of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram among others. Therefore, this discussion analyzes the limitations of computer-mediated communication since it lessens interpersonal attention. Contrary, computer-mediated communication constitute of positive outcomes on intercultural communication hence people become enriched by different views of various cultures, therefore, appreciating others’ cultures since boosting economic development as well as social enhancement.
Impacts of computer-mediated communication on interpersonal
Employment of computer-mediated communication limit the essence of interpersonal communication since most important aspects will be lost in the course of conversation. Social media communication weakens the ability to communicate and interact visibly across every venue because it shifts the real way in which people communicate, therefore, losing a vital aspect of face-to-face interaction. Alternatively, most people prefer to send a text message, e-mail or either a tweet to their partners of communication rather than audible calls via the phone (Booth, 2014). However, most studies indicate that there is more and more interaction among people but the mode through which such people interact has changed too because they no longer involve face-to-face conversation.
Thus, the interpersonal relationship that is built when people communicate much grows weak and demolishes the effective connection that ought to prevail. Additionally, social media communication hinder the explicit application of crucial elements which facilitate appropriate comprehension of interpersonal communication ability and skills because most of the electronic devices involved in communication do not support the visual appearance of the person conversing. Such instances of skills included to enhance interpersonal communication are; body movement and language, tone valuation and intonation, facial expression among others (Oh, Ozkaya, & LaRose, 2014, p. 69)
Furthermore, it should be noted that the implication of non-verbal cues such as eye contact, use of gestures as well as facial posture in interpersonal communication play a vital role in course of message deliverance since these elements outweigh verbal information. Consequently, partial absence of these items in social networks inhibits the core meaning of information; therefore, authentic emotions and experiences are not demonstrated leading to weak interaction among people in contrary to traditional communication.
Nonetheless, interpersonal communication is characterized by a proceeding conduct feature which involves actual learning and understanding each mode of communication used by other colleagues or parties include in a conversation. For instance regarding contract, parties may nod their heads to illustrate their extent of agreement on the concept of matter being discussed whereas they can also throw a hand to show a disagreement of the conversation an essential concept that computer-mediated sites cannot withstand.
It means that an initiated conversation over some social media appliances such as Facebook can delay reaching people at exact duration because different characters have their scheduled time to access social networks, and therefore, there is no prompt reply of the intended message. To supplement the statement, most studies argues that effective communication entail two people or rather two parties which engage in interpretative argument with relevant action upon the directive communication. It means that the non-verbal elements employed by each should infer accordingly to the meaning of the conversation (Brown, 2013).
Moreover, computer-mediated communication is an obstacle to the real meaning of information that one intend to convey since written down information can be distorted or biased, thus, losing the purported meaning. The primary principle of interpersonal contact in the conversation is the real interpretation of a given message in accordance to meet the intended functions of the same information being conveyed. For instance a text message can be analyzed without a question mark hence the receiver view that text as a statement this way distorting the intended function of the written message. Neither, if such a text is posted on Twitter or Facebook, people misinterpret or misquote the text, unlike the traditional communication where massagers could report actual information according to the sender.
Inclusively, use of computer-mediated communication is said to dilute the intense of recommended relationship because the major element of communication that is, face-to-face communication has been eradicated and there is no more intact among to deepen such association. It is bringing to affirmation that such relationships exist in the status quos. Lack of close contact among different personality encompass people in diverged views which are rare in traditionally recommended communication, for example, individuals involved in a conversation via online tend to hide their real identities hence proving high standards of living (Oh, Ozkaya, & LaRose, 2014).
Therefore, intense of computer-mediated communication as a medium of message conveyance at interpersonal level limit the main objective of intended information. On the other hand, social media has greatly influenced some tradition culture since currently; many individuals recommend computer-mediated communication as it links a range of people, therefore, neglecting traditional means of communication (Brown, 2013).
Effects of computer-mediated communication on intercultural communication
In contrast, social network communication constitutes numerous positive outcomes despite the shortcomings that confine interpersonal communication. In the recent period of digital technological communication, the fundamental aspect of time has been eased through great reduction distance from one point to the other, and simultaneously distance reduction has significantly interacted people from local to national level as well as global space (Oh, Ozkaya, & LaRose, 2014, p. 68-69).
Besides, readily access to social media influences a significant development of international growth either socially nor economically and the products acquired are shared equally among all states, therefore, enhancing accurate interaction among people in the world and healthier environment for every race. For instance, the world organizations that reinforce global enterprises can merge and set up business regulations that include all races in such associations to modify and diminish proper interaction across the world (Fu, & Chau, 2013, p. 62).
Besides, computer-mediated communication has facilitated recommendable and appropriate intercultural communication because it awakens the sense of intercultural interactions, promoting ethical understanding of different cultures and embracing such cultures regardless of their origin. Accordingly, people from various background cultures, therefore, merge and incorporate different individual customs caused by distinct rational thinking. For instance, if a person deliberately decides to pay a visit in Dubai, they can apply the most effective form of social media communication to find out the culture of Arab people in order to demonstrate sufficient acknowledgment and appreciation of such culture.
Nonetheless, computer-mediated communication is not limited to educational purposes of intercultural principle. This signifies that students from a different culture may share their background customs and beliefs to their colleagues by the use of social media consequently equipping students with immense knowledge of other cultures and how to embrace them (Na, & Chan, M. Y. (2015, p. 53).
However, the enriched comprehension that people acquire from social media concerning intercultural communication enables them to do away with unjustified cultural matters then advocating for comparative and healthier environment among different groups of people. For instance, different people portray ill feeling towards other’s culture basing from race ideology and the originality of those people. It indicates that many people denounce others because they do not share common custom and beliefs.
Considerably, such ill feelings are facilitated by an inadequate understanding of different cultures especially when people are interlocked in the same place. However, computer-mediated communication equip with relevance knowledge of different cultures through sharing and comprehensive learning. Additionally, social media allow people to engage eventually with people to find more about their culture and necessity approach of such values and beliefs in that contained society (Na, & Chan, M. Y. (2015, p. 57).
Furthermore, computer-mediated communication provides a platform for individual enterprises through effective engagement of different cultures into the business. For example, numerous social networks give room for inventing personal page either on Facebook, Twitter or others, thus, evolving new means of business development as people can buy and sell commodities to many people from distinguished cultures via online. It promotes efficient interaction worldwide hindering any form of discrimination based on culture. Online businesses embody people with creative knowledge on the way to enhance effective communication at the intercultural level since most cultures differ from the others. It leads to increased close relationship among different people all over the world (Na, & Chan, M. Y. (2015, p. 47).
Consecutively, social media allows the users to share their emotional feelings explicitly as well as private affairs, therefore, enhancing close interpersonal communication and building strong confidence towards other individuals as they believe that they care about their feelings and seldom can they hurt back.
Besides, some of the computer-mediated communication appliances such as Skype offer clarified face-to-face communication is permitting for plausible interpersonal communication and improving close relationship toward one another. Noticeably, social media does not surpass the function of interpersonal relation as computer-mediated communication limit the physical presence of an individual; it only influences the visual appearance and interpersonal conversation (Miller, 2016).
Nevertheless, many people have met in computer-mediated communication, and they have learned different culture and how to appreciate them. These succeed for successful engagement and mature marriages between people of different cultures since promoting peace in the world and unifying people as one family regardless of their distinct values and beliefs. For instance, an Emirati can choose to marry a lady from North America because they have shared their content of cultures through social media. There have been several firm relationships initiated through social media and impact to standing marriages despite distinguished races and nationality (Oh, Ozkaya, & LaRose, 2014, p. 78).
Despite the positive results of computer-mediated communication, it is also associated with some adverse effects on intercultural communication. Therefore, it is necessarily crucial to view some of the undesirable points such us; employment of computer-mediated communication can lead disappearance of nature of one’s culture or a sense of belonging to that particular cultural group. He states that cultural identity revolves about the ownership of absolute ethical values, language, beliefs, and a custom among others as well as incorporating those ideas at a personal level.
When people tend to disown their culture through social media, it can result to though the substitutions of such cultures or else partial deterioration. For instance, Arabic individuals using social networks may not utilize their accurate or native Language as the device used does not reveal the exact person using that gadget. They, therefore, can use English numerical and alphabets in alternative to Arabic digits to alter their particular language. Inclusively, social media have excessively deteriorated traditional mode of dressing because most people can share their cultures due to much exposure on computer-mediated communication and hence embrace undesirable values from such cultures (Na, & Chan, M. Y. (2015, p. 48).
The above argument is considered negative because it deactivates suitable development of cultural beliefs and tradition especially to younger generations who have extensively adopted an original mode of dressing which is not appreciated by their culture and traditions. For instance, Arabic ladies may decide to embark Western culture and their way of dressing of which is less acceptable in their culture since causing indifference of the Arabic culture.
Besides, endorsement of various intercultural communications can affect the traditions of another community regarding how the mode of communication and the language employed to different groups of people according to their beliefs. For instance, young generations are not allowed to hang over with their opposite sex and engage in irrespective conversation with their peers according to Arabic tradition. In contrast, they can learn such immoral behaviors from social media as they interchange their cultures and end up demolishing the aspect of maintaining the dignity of their culture (Fu, & Chau, 2013, p. 73).
Thus, computer mediated communication can serve as well as constitute indifference on intercultural communication development in the community particularly if the stakeholders of the traditions are not watchful. In addition, the hiked rate at which computer-mediated communication is growing is likely to outdo and deactivate primary elements traditions and culture since people consider social media as the source information and interaction (Na, & Chan, 2015, p. 58).
To sum up the discussion, it is evident that all individuals are involved in the usage of social media devices since the world is currently ruled and managed by new forms of technology. Therefore, it comprises of several effects either negatively nor positively; thus, the above discussion indicates that computer-mediated communication contains adverse consequences on an interpersonal conversation because it limits the actual closeness among people during communication. The distance between the conversant tends to lengthen as the real feelings, and non-verbal cues which define accurate information are hindered.
However, social media is benefits to intercultural communication since it offers an efficient platform for interaction between different communities, intermarriages, prosperous businesses as well as promoting a comprehensive understanding of one’s culture and appreciating it. However, an intercultural communication leads to moral deterioration in some extent due to incorporative as well as the practice of unacceptable cultures.
References
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