From M/Cyclopedia of New Media
Introduction
- Email is perhaps the most widely used online communication medium because of its informal nature, rapid delivery and general convenience. Due to the virtual ease through which people can connect, email is often considered the principal way in which people communicate and form relationships online. Notwithstanding that relationships often form through other online media, it is though email communication that the relationship expands.
Features Important to Social Interaction
- Text - The most obvious feature of email, and indeed all other forms of conventional online communication methods, is the use of text. Typed words are the only way in which people can connect with each other and therefore writing style and proficiency becomes extremely important(Suler, 2003). Stemming from this aspect is the lack of face-to-face cues. Body language and other voice signals within normal communication creates a context for words and allows people to interpret underlying subtleties (Chayko, 2002). As there are no facial cues to rely on, email users must be aware that what they write can often be misconstrued.
- Asynchronous - Email is an example of asynchronous communication. Asynchronous communication is where the transference of messages is not simultaneous. Although, an email message is send to the receiver simultaneously, the receiver does not read the message at that prescribed time. Rather, the message is read at a later time. This allows interaction via email to create ‘breathing space’. Naturally, the rate of the transference of email will vary depending of different types of relationships and different stages within relationships (Suler, 2003). As a rule of thumb, the more frequent the emails in a social context, the newer the relationship. The disadvantage of the asynchronous nature is that often email users can experience long periods of no or low level correspondence(Suler,2003). In a medium where a relationship is sustained purely on the exchange of email, this lack of communication creates problems and insecurities within the users.
- Anonymity - Another feature of email is its ability to give users the option to remain anonymous. Anonymity in this sense can be both an advantage and disadvantage (Johnson, 1997). As users are only known by either proper name or email address, they have the security that other users with whom they do not have a close relationship, are oblivious to where they are and who they are. The disadvantages of anonymity largely stem from the inhibiting factor that a lack of personal information has on other users coupled with the lack of face-to-face cues.
- Privacy – Email is considered to be a private form of online interaction as for the most part, users can control directly who reads their exchanges (Whittle, 1998: 120). Although there is the issue of hackers, the actual purpose of communicating in this way is for privacy (as opposed to newsgroups, discussion forums etc).
Concerns
- The major concern with email is that of security and privacy. Although, as mentioned, privacy is one of the reasons why email is often the favoured choice of interaction online, it is often the reason why many steer clear. This dichotomy presents a dilemma for the avid email user. One must balance the opportunity to begin and conduct relationships via email with the risk to security and the ever-present spamming (unwanted emails).
Bibliography
Chayko, M (2002) Connecting: How we form socail bonds and communities in the Internet age, New York : State Univeristy of New York Press. ISBN 0791454339
Johnson, D.G (1997) Ethics Online Association for Computing Machinery Vol 40, no.1, retrieved August 4, 2004
Suler, J (2003) Email Communication and Relationships. Retreived September, 1 2004 from http://www.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/emailrel.html
Whittle, D (1998) Cyberspace: The Human Dimsension, New York: W H Freeman & Co. ISBN 0716783118
Related Wiki Links
Online Social Interaction - Chat(MSN)
Online Social Interaction - Forums, Message Boards & Newsgroups
Online Social Interaction - The Virtual Community
Online Social Interaction - Behavioural Effect of Frequent Usage
Youth Culture and New Technologies - Email
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Elizabetta Sorbello 19:28, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)
