Conclusion

As I said in the first post, I hope that these posts have been interesting and informative, and that you as the reader learning something new!
I like to take time at the end of studying to "sum up" the things that I have learned. So with that in mind, let me review a few of the conclusions I have drawn about the effect the Internet has had on communication, based on the previous posts:

1. The Internet has virtually eliminated the need for proximity in social relationships, bringing people much closer together than ever before. Similarities in interests and (to some degree) social attraction are still about as important as they ever have been.
2. Increased Internet use has had a largely negative effect on relationships between spouses, and more time spent on the Internet seems to correlate with lower relationship quality. However, I believe it is possible to use the Internet to strengthen marriage relationships, and to find an appropriate balance between Internet use and other important pursuits.
3. Relationships formed online have mixed effects. They can assist socially anxious individuals in forming friendships and provide time to escape from the pressures of the "real world." However, they can also lead to isolation from real world relationships.
4. The way people choose to use the Internet depends greatly upon factors such as their gender, race, or cultural background. 
5. The anonymity of the Internet allows people to portray themselves in the way they want to be, rather than the way they may appear in the offline world.
6. The Internet has allowed personal "needs" and desires to be met quickly and conveniently.
7. The Internet has become a major substitute for offline, face-to-face communication, creating a new sense of "connectedness" despite often total isolation in the real world.
8. There is a correlation between increased Internet use and a deficiency in social skills; however, it is not known which factor causes which effect.
9. It is yet unknown the extent to which in-person communication skills will be necessary in the future. I personally believe that they will retain a large degree of significance despite the growth of communication technology.

The Internet is a fantastic network, filled with opportunities for beneficial communication as well as harmful time-wasting. To me the final effect of the Internet depends upon how it is used. Like any technology, it can be used for wise or foolish purposes. Although this was my opinion before I conducted this study, I am much more aware now of just how truthful this is. The beauty of the Internet is in the eye of the user, and what the user puts into it is more or less what he or she will get out of it as well.
I know this study was very informative for me, and because of it I will continue to ponder on and analyze not only the Internet, but also all forms of media I see all around me each day. Thanks for reading and (since I also prefer communicating online much better than in-person) please feel free to read any blogs I may create in the future!

Internet Use: Problematic?

I spent the last post discussing how the Internet has benefitted society (particularly adolescents). Now I will discuss the potential ways in which it has been harmful.
The questions that need to be addressed, as a result of the ever-increasing amount of Internet use in the world, are the following: Is increased usage of the Internet becoming a substitute for important offline communication? Is this substitution hindering important social and communication skills? Will these skills always be needed in real life?
Let me address the first question. "Is increased usage of the Internet becoming a substitute for important offline communication?" I think I can respond to this best with a "case study" that took place completely by accident in my life last week. It was Thursday afternoon, and I was in my apartment "studying" (in other words, wasting time on the Internet). Suddenly the power went out, leaving everyone in the apartment complex disconnected simultaneously.
What happened next? The answer may not be too hard to guess. Everyone suddenly had to find something else to do because the Internet was no longer available. Not knowing what to do on their own without Internet availability, in just two minutes most of the people who were at home ended up outside their apartments talking. Almost everyone who was home came outside!
The power remained out for about two hours. During this time, we played several games and had a great time. People came and left as they desired.
After this, I realized that this was a "social experiment," conducted completely by accident, and that I had just gotten a firsthand look at what would happen if the Internet were suddenly no longer available. My theory is that all these people (including me) were using the Internet to communicate in some way, while meeting their own "needs" in the process. When the power cord was cut, they had to resort to another way to find connection with other people!
I think the clear answer to our above question is "yes." The Internet is substituting not just for some of our communication, but quite possibly a significant amount of it!
Now let's look at the second question: "Is this substitution hindering important social and communication skills?"
In the past it has been my belief that use of the Internet as a substitute for in-person communication hindered psychosocial skills. I determined this by the fact that it seemed easier for me to talk with people in person when I wasn't spending as much time online. However, a study by Robert S. Tokunaga and Stephen A. Rains seems to propose the opposite: Poor psychosocial skills lead to greater use of the Internet to communicate (1). At any rate, it is obvious to researchers generally that there is a correlation; however, the question of causation doesn't seem to be decided.
Finally, the last question. "Will these social and communication skills always be needed in real life?" I don't believe anyone knows the answer to this question, but it is interesting to consider. Will the future be like the movie Wall-E, in which all the people are entirely dependent upon their technology? As technology evolves, it will be intriguing to witness the effects, and to see the direction in which it takes the world as a whole.

1) Tokunaga, Robert S; Rains, Stephen A. "An Evaluation of Two Characterizations of the Relationships Between Problematic Internet Use, Time Spent Using the Internet, and Psychosocial Problems." Human Communication Research 36 (2010): 512-45. Print.

Uses and Gratifications: Why do we use the Internet?

Why do we use the Internet? This may sound like a silly question, at least to the people who use the Internet on a regular basis. For so many of us, the Internet has become a major part of our lives, ingraining itself into nearly everything we do. Gone are the days in which Internet use was merely a way to find information, or having a website was unique. Now the Internet is used for so many different purposes that to go without it feels like living in the Stone Age!
The Theory of Uses and Gratifications states that individuals who access different forms of media do so for many different reasons. It sounds very simple, but it can be difficult to determine why it is that people use media in different ways.
One major reason for the variety of Internet uses includes factors such as gender, race, and cultural background. One study investigated the many different reasons why teenagers chose to go online, and gave them several different options to choose from. Some of the options are as follows:

"Look for information to do school homework"
"When I am bored"
"Chat with friends"
"Watch films or series, online TV" 241"Download free music files"
"Look for information about how to take or where to get joints, speed,
pills, cocaine and other drugs"
"Play network games"

The results confirmed the Uses and Gratifications Theory, because not everyone in the study used the Internet in the same way. However, the way it was used correlated significantly with gender. Males tended to use the Internet to search for new relationships, become involved in economic activities, and play games. Females generally focused most on searching for information and communicating with existing friends (1).
This reveals some of the ways the Internet has impacted communication. The Internet has become an extension of the real world, by reinforcing behaviors that are generally associated with different genders. Just as we see an offline world in which men are more focused on economic and business pursuits than women, we also see this tendency reflected on the Internet.
It is interesting, however, to note that the anonymity of the Internet appears to give people more courage to act in ways that are not traditionally expected of them, based on gender or culture. The fact that a user account on a website does not have to include a user's real name allows that user to "get away" with more than he or she might attempt to get away with in the real world.
Another impact of the Internet is the affect it has had on teenagers generally. As discussed in this study, the Internet seems to have a way of meeting uniquely adolescent needs (such as the need for social acceptance and discovery of identity) that cannot as easily be met in the real world. Teenagers can use social media profiles to discover their identity, and can then validate that identity by finding an ever increasing number of online "friends."
Finally, the Internet gives quick and easy access to information and activities that are otherwise not so easy to access in the offline world. Text, images, videos, databases, news media, information on people, and maps that are all available at the simple click of a button have made life so convenient for so many.
The Internet has perhaps had its single greatest effect on society through the uses and gratifications that it affords its users. As society continues to progress in technological and cultural evolution, I'm sure we will continue to see ever more convenient ways of meeting our own needs become available.

1) Jimenez, Antonio Garcia; Lopez de Ayala Lopez, Maria Cruz; Pisionera, Carmen Gaona. "A vision of uses and gratifications applied to the study of Internet use by adolescents." Communication and Society 25.2 (2012): 231-54. Print.

Relationships Formed Online: A New Product of the Internet

One of the most unique effects of the Internet on human relationships has been the creation of a new medium: Online relationships. Thanks to the Internet, it is now possible for people thousands of miles away from each other to make contact, develop a friendship, and even get engaged or "married" from their home computer or mobile device! Not too many years ago this would have been very difficult or even impossible to accomplish. What effect has this new kind of relationship had on the world? That is the question this post will explore.
A study performed by Qing Tian of the University of Georgia analyzed social interaction in the "blogosphere." Drawing upon past research on the relationship between social anxiety and the Internet, he confirmed several existing theories on interpersonal communication and also revealed new findings (1).
Tian discusses two competing hypotheses: The Social Compensation Hypothesis, and the Rich-Get-Richer Hypothesis. The Social Compensation Hypothesis claims that computer-mediated communication (communication through the Internet and other non-face-to-face technologies) is beneficial to socially anxious individuals who struggle to communicate in face-to-face settings. The Rich-Get-Richer Hypothesis claims that those who already possess strong social skills can further develop these through computer-mediated communication. Tian's findings supported both hypotheses, demonstrating that the Internet can benefit both the socially skilled and the socially weak.
What does this have to do with online relationships? I think I can explain it best by sharing a story. When I was in elementary school and middle school, I was shy and didn't have very many friends. I had only one friend that I could consider "close." During these times, the Internet was booming, growing at a frantic pace. Without really knowing why, I found myself in an online discussion board centered around one of my favorite TV shows. There I was able to connect with other people who had similar interests, as none of my friends in real life knew anything about this show. Since that time, the Internet has allowed me to compensate for and gradually overcome my weakness by helping me communicate more effectively. I now have several friends online who I correspond with often, even though I don't even know their real names!
Online relationships have other purposes and effects besides overcoming social anxiety. Another study performed by Yann-Ling Chin at the Chinese University of Hong Kong explained that for many people in China, online relationships "provide not only emotional stimulation and distraction from the frustration of daily life, but also solace and support to the participants." He found that many participants want to keep their online friendships separate from their relationships offline, despite the increasing integration between online and offline interactions that is being witnessed in the world today. For these individuals, their online relationships are not intended to be a part of the "real world," but instead a way to escape the real world (2). I can relate to this feeling because I often use the Internet for the same purpose. Sometimes I just don't want to deal with my problems in a given moment, so I delay by escaping into the online world. It provides temporary gratification, but leaves me feeling that I wasted time I could have used doing something more productive.
There are bound to be many other effects resulting from online relationships. Cross-cultural boundaries are likely being whittled away as online communities form independently from geographical barriers. It is likely that more people who meet online are becoming friends or spouses in the offline world. And topics and ideas that are contentiously debated offline are likely debated ten times more heatedly online. Ultimately, these effects are neither wholly positive nor wholly negative, but they do yield greater insights into the role the Internet is playing in our lives.

1) Tian, Qing. "Social Anxiety, Motivation, Self-Disclosure, and Computer-Mediated Friendship: A Path Analysis of the Social Interaction in the Blogosphere." Communication Research 40.2 (2011): 237-60. Print.

2) Chinn, Yan-Ling. “Platonic relationships” in China’s online social milieu: a lubricant for
banal everyday life?" Chinese Journal of Communication 4.4 (2011): 400-16. Print.

Spouse and Dating Relationships

The next question I want to address is the question of how Internet communication benefits or harms relationships between couples who are married or dating. In this post, when I refer to "relationships" I am referring specifically to marriage or dating relationships.
It was difficult for me to find research on this topic, particularly sources that discussed the positive effects of the Internet on relationships. However, based on some of the other research I have done so far, as well as my own observations and experiences, I believe I can nevertheless extrapolate some of these effects.
Much of what I learned was negative. My primary source of information on this topic was an article discussing compulsive internet use and relationship quality. Specifically, the article analyzed relationships between newlyweds. Within the article, several conclusions were made; none of them surprised me very much. Overall, it was found that higher levels of Internet use were associated with lower relationship quality and less intimacy within the relationship. It was also found to be associated with a lower degree of passion in both partners, but only less intimacy among one partner at a time. The article concluded that more research on this topic needs to be done and that future studies could focus on what individuals in these relationships do when they spend time on the Internet. Also, it was uncertain whether the relationship was a causal one, or simply a correlation (1).
I believe that this correlation between Internet use and deteriorating relationships between couples is significant. It seems evident to me that if a spouses are spending time online, they are generally not spending that time with one another. It is possible that couples generally don't believe more time with one another is needed, because they already spend so much time together in person. Therefore, when they are online, they participate in various other activities that don't contribute to their relationship. The more they do this, the weaker their relationship becomes over time.
An important question is whether a greater degree of Internet use causes poorer relationships, or whether poorer relationships lead to higher degrees of Internet use. I can see this going both ways, depending on the spouses in question. Increased Internet use may begin simply as a harmless activity that then harms the relationship, or it can begin with a desire to "escape" the frustrations of the relationship and find companionship elsewhere.
Despite these real issues, I can see some potentially positive results from Internet use for married couples as well. Spouses can employ social media and email to keep in touch with one another when they can't be together in person. They can use the Internet to create blogs, videos, images, and other media to share the joys of their family life with others, simultaneously causing them to better recognize the joys of their relationship. The fact that the Internet seems to be becoming more focused on bringing people together all across the world may have a tremendous benefit not only to married couples, but to their extended families as well.
Ultimately, it seems evident that whether the Internet is harmful or not to relationships depends upon the way it is used, and the amount of time that is devoted to it. Because a marriage is a significant relationship that requires a lot of time and sacrifice to maintain, there is likely not much time available for Internet use. Therefore, a healthy balance, if created early in a relationship, could make a world of difference for relationship quality.

1) Kerkhof, Peter; Finkenauer, Catrin. "Relationship Quality and Compulsive Internet Use: A Study Among Newlywed Couples." Conference Papers - International Communication Association Annual Meeting (2008): 25. Print.

The Effect of the Internet on Offline Friendships

Hello again! Today I will share with you the first topic: What the effect of Internet use has been on friendships that were formed in person.
Face-to-face communication is the foundational and primary means of communication that we as humans have developed. We employ verbal, visual, and sometimes physical cues to help other people understand the message which we are attempting to convey. This form of communication is conducted entirely in real time. Because of this, once something is spoken, it cannot be undone. Communication in person also affords a person the opportunity to quickly discern and interpret the attitude or response of the person receiving his or her message.
Contrastingly, the Internet has brought with it an easy and convenient way for people to communicate without being in each others' presence, and without having to respond instantaneously. This has literally revolutionized communication in many ways. One of the most important ways this has occurred is in the realm of friendships.
A study(1) on social networking websites and the quality of friendships discussed how "offline" relationships have been impacted by the Internet. It emphasized that friendships develop primarily as a result of proximity, similarity, and social attraction. Proximity is the geographical closeness of two people, similarity refers to how alike two people are, and social attraction is a term used to describe the way two people are drawn to each other to form a friendship. The study also characterized how important each of these factors is both in online and offline friendships. Here are its conclusions:

1. Proximity: Proximity is essential to maintaining a friendship offline. However, in online friendships it no longer matters.
2. Similarity: The Internet has made similarity much more important to developing relationships online than it has been in person. However, people feel that their offline friends are much more similar to themselves than their online friends are.
3. Social Attraction: Social attraction is a very important part of forming offline relationships. However, in online relationships, it is not so important.

I largely agree with this study's conclusions about proximity and social attraction. It reveals that as people have more frequently turned to the Internet for friendship in recent years, the very ways in which friendships have formed have evolved. This has been demonstrated by my life, in which most of my in-person friendships have formed as a result of proximity and social attraction, while my online friendships have formed mostly as a result of similarity.
The Internet has virtually eliminated the necessity of proximity in a relationship. This has led to the development of friendships that exist only online, which I will discuss in a future post. However, it has also allowed for relationships that were formed in-person to be extended into the online world. Although two people may not be in each other's physical presence, they can still interact with one another. The previously mentioned study referred to such relationships as "mixed-mode" relationships. These individuals know each other in person but often interact online. This has created a fascinating effect in which individuals may be "connected" to other people through their technology, and yet in physical reality be completely alone!
Another effect is that the Internet has made it significantly easier for similar individuals to connect with one another than it may be in real life. However, this effect is more pronounced in online situations that are limited to text communication, and less significant in online situations that employ images, videos, and face-to-face communications (such as social networking sites and services such as Skype).
Finally, the importance of social attraction initially waned in the early days of the Internet (when text-based communication was the main method employed) and has gradually increased in importance with the advent of social media websites such as Facebook and Google Plus.
I believe that the Internet has in many ways been very beneficial to relationships that were formed in-person, for many of the reasons stated above. However, it has also had some detrimental effects. In the upcoming posts I will explore the ways the Internet can and has affected marriage and dating relationships and whether the effects are largely positive or negative.

Notes:
1) Antheunis, Marjolijn; Valkenburg, Patti; Peter, Jochen. "Friendships Among Users of Social Network Sites: The Quality of Online, Offline, and Mixed-Mode Friendships." Conference Papers - International Communication Association Annual Meeting (2010): 30. Print.

Introduction

Welcome! This blog has been created to do a little analysis of the effects of the Internet on communication. I, Justin, am your writer, and in the upcoming posts I will be exploring this subject in some detail. Each post will be centered on a different area in which the Internet has made an impact. I will discuss how the Internet has impacted interpersonal relationships, the unique phenomenon of online relationships, why we use the Internet, and much more! Finally, in the last post I will take a look at the "big picture" or the "so what" of the things I have shared.

I hope that the things I share will be intriguing to anyone who reads, and that they will learn something new in the process.