Online Communication and “Fitting In”

I've never considered the freedom to join whatever group you want online. This is true and probably allows people to be more involved than they socially could in person. If FTF communication is supposedly superior to online communication, why does it take the Internet for people it "fit in?"

Online communication is a valuable tool and supplement to face-to-face communication. It provides access to millions of people and enables people to communicate with members of other groups and societies which would otherwise be unreachable.

This freedom does indeed allow people to be more socially involved and provides them with the ability to “fit in” better for several reasons. The greatest benefit which the internet and online communication provides is that it enables people to “reexamine traditional interpersonal… self disclosure and relationship formation” (Gibbs, Ellison, & Heino, 2006) members of online communities choose what they want to disclose. Their communication can’t be negatively affected by their height, weight, appearance, how they speak, or any other characteristics which conventional face-to-face communication discloses automatically. This control enables people to get to know each other before opinions can be formed based solely on appearance (2006).

Online communication is also very beneficial to adolescents who are lonely and suffer from social anxiety. This group of individuals “…strongly value the controllability of internet communication and perceive it as broader, deeper and more reciprocal” than face-to-face communication (Jochen & Valkenburg, 2006). The asynchronous characteristic of online communication enables people to control their communication more effectively and enables them to think out their communication which is critical for the socially anxious (2006). Online communication can also be seen as more reciprocal. This reciprocity provides a deeper connection in communication and helps develop belongingness (2006).

These important functions of online communication enhance the breadth and depth of communication. Breath refers to the number of topics discussed and depth refers to the intimate and personal disclosure through online communication. While online communication cannot mimic the personal and intimate connection that face-to-face communication and physical contact engender it is an amazing enhancement that enables people who would otherwise be marginalized to build intimate and meaningful relationships.

References.

Gibbs, J., Ellison, N. & Heino R. (2002). Self-Presentation in Online Personals: The Role of Anticipated Future Interaction, Self-Disclosure, and Perceived Success in Internet Dating. Communication Research 33, 2, 152-177 Retrieved Nov. 30, 2006 from SAGE Publications Communication Studies: A SAGE Full-Text Collection database.

Jochen P. & Valkenburg P. Research Note: Individual Differences in Perceptions of Internet Communication. European Journal Of Communication 21, 2, 213-226 Retrieved Nov. 28, 2006 from SAGE Publications Communication Studies: A SAGE Full-Text Collection database.