Different modalities of online communication and different online environments may facilitate diverse expressions of self. Explain why this is so. What are the implications of this for the individual and for society?

Online Communication Modalities and Self-Expression

There are numerous examples of online communication and environments From e-mail communication to Second Life simulation , the internet has provided an unprecedented array of communication modes , most of which provide at least some degree of anonymity . By analyzing the expressions of self displayed in environments such as chat rooms , social networking sites , dating sites and avatar-based simulated environments , one can get an impression as to the manner in which expressions of self are altered by the media of internet-based communication

There are studies to support the

notion that anonymity has the effect of facilitating true-self ' identity ( Baragh , et . al . 2002 ) However experiments in this area tend to neglect context . Because most internet communications are situation , or subject- specific , self-reporting is skewed by context ( Baragh , et . al . 2002 ) In simple terms , if a person is in a movie discussion ' chat forum , one may conclude based on their communication that their entire self-concept is predicated on their choice of films or genres . This viewpoint is distorted by the fact that the and focus of the discussion in this particular room is directed toward movies . Since relatively little of internet interaction occurs in a content-neutral environment , is it difficult to parse the true-self aspect of communications therein from the content-intensified communication that occurs ( Baragh , et . al . 2002

A baseline analysis of communication in a face-to-face environment has relevance when contrasted with that of various types of online communications . While expressions of self may vary in accuracy , honesty and depth on the internet , one constant is that communication without in-person contact is fraught with the possibilities of misunderstanding (Elgin , 1998 )While it is commonly noted that between 60 and 90 percent of communication is nonverbal , there is little actual research to support those numbers (Elgin , 1998 )However , it can be concluded that the non-verbal element of communication is a paramount aspect of interaction , and if removed by circumstances , compensatory methods of understanding must be erected in its place , lest communication absolutely fail in non-personal interactions such as those on the internet (Elgin , 1998 ) Given this fact , to the extent that one 's mode of expression is at least one fairly dominant aspect of one 's self , that aspect is necessarily altered by the very mode of communication . Put simply , if an individual 's identity is tied up in non-verbal schema such as empathy , tactile communication , or facial expression , their interactions on the internet are necessarily skewed with respect to their expression of self

Looking at specific modes of internet communication , one can see this effect intensified by other factors . The example of the internet chat room is one such mode . Internet chat rooms are generally , open areas of text communication on varying , but usually specified s . The format simulates , in some ways , that of a cocktail party , or another crowded-room situation . Communication is in the written form , and reading and writing are the sole methods of interaction . In this environments , it is possible for an individual to experience...