Is texting mediated communication?

Texting, or sending and receiving text messages via a cellular phone or another mobile device, has become a ubiquitous part of modern communication. It is a form of mediated communication, defined as the transmission of messages through a medium such as a phone or a computer. This type of communication has its own psychological effects and theories that help explain how and why people use it.

One of the key psychological theories behind texting is the concept of social presence. Short, Williams originally mentioned this phrase, and Christie, in the Social Psychology of Telecommunications, 1976, defined it as “a quality of the medium itself”. So, according to them, the sense of social presence occurs in the medium instead of in the interplay between people. In other words, it refers to the degree to which people feel connected to one another when they communicate or feel a sense of togetherness. And, the higher the degree of media richness (eg. video), the higher the social presence.

In the case of texting, social presence can often be low because the medium itself lacks many of the nonverbal cues that are present in face-to-face communication. For example, when we talk to someone in person, we can see their facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. These nonverbal cues help us to understand the other person's thoughts and feelings. However, when we text someone, we cannot see these cues, which can make it difficult to understand the other person's message entirely.

One way to increase social presence in texting is by using paralanguage and emojis. Some emojis can “clarify or confuse the receiver” depending on the level of interpretation. But usually, the message gets clarified. This is similar when the texter uses emojis or nonverbal cues such as acronyms, exaggerated spelling and responds very fast. Some researchers suggest that users actually experience more intimacy when using paralanguage, acronyms etc. this overall can increase social presence.

Another psychological theory that helps to explain why people use texting is the theory of self-disclosure. This refers to the amount of personal information that people share with others. In general, people tend to disclose more personal information when they have a high level of trust and intimacy with the other person. However, when people communicate via text, the lack of nonverbal cues we present in face-to-face communication and the inherent impersonality of the medium can make it difficult for people to build trust and intimacy.

In the hyperpersonal communication model, there are four components. The senders, receivers, channel and feedback. The receivers can sometimes over-interpret messages in text communication. This ultimately leads to the receivers responding with high levels of self-disclosure. Receivers tend to try form an impression from the sender and attempt to fill in the gaps with positive interpretations when there are minimal cues.

There are many other psychological theories we can use when analysing text. Despite the challenges of texting as a form of mediated communication, it has become popular because it allows people to communicate quickly and easily. It is beneficial for people who are on the go and need more time or opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversation. It is also helpful for people who may feel anxious or uncomfortable communicating in person, as it allows them to communicate from a distance.

Overall, texting is a valuable form of mediated communication with ups and downs. While it may lack some of the nonverbal cues and intimacy of face-to-face communication, it allows people to connect quickly and easily, making it a valuable tool in today's fast-paced world.

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Online Self-Presentation: Why do people like to post about themselves?

There are many reasons why people like to post about themselves online. Some people do it to share their experiences and connect with others who have similar interests, while others do it to seek validation and attention from their peers.

One psychological theory that can help explain why people like to post about themselves online is the concept of self-presentation. This refers to the way in which people present themselves to others in order to create a particular impression. In Cyberpsychology, we call this Impression Management. Impression management is the steps or actions we take, in order to influence how people perceive us. In the online world, people can carefully craft their self-presentation by choosing what to post and how to present it. This includes how to type, using grammatically correct language, emojis, how many photos to post, whether they should be edited, and much much more. This can help people feel more in control of the image they are presenting to others and can even boost their self-esteem. In a recent study, it has been suggested that there is a link between impression management and social media addiction. (let’s get into that another day!)

Another psychological theory that can help explain why people like to post about themselves online is the concept of self-disclosure. This refers to the act of sharing personal information with others. In the online world, people can choose how much to disclose about themselves, and to whom they disclose it. This can help people feel more connected to others, and can even help them build relationships. One of the popular theories about self-disclosure is the Internet-enhanced self-disclosure (IESD) hypothesis. The theory suggests that online self-disclosure increases relationship quality more than face-to-face disclosure. This relational effect makes self-disclosure more impactful on a person's wellbeing in computer-mediated communication than face-to-face.

Certain personality traits may also make people more likely to post about themselves online. For example, people who are extroverted and sociable may be more likely to enjoy sharing their experiences and connecting with others online. People who are open to new experiences may also be more likely to try new social media platforms and experiment with different ways of presenting themselves online.

One way in which posting about oneself differs on different social media channels is the level of control, and privacy people have over their posts. On platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people can choose who sees their posts and can even limit access to certain posts. This can give people a sense of control over their self-presentation and can help them feel more comfortable sharing personal information. On other platforms, like Twitter, posts are more public and can be seen by anyone. This can make people more cautious about what they post and can even lead to more careful self-presentation. 

Overall, people like to post about themselves online for a variety of reasons, including the desire to present a particular image, the need to connect with others, and the enjoyment of sharing their experiences. These motivations can vary depending on individual personality traits and the specific social media platform being used.

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