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Computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory is an interdisciplinary field that examines how technology influences communication and social interaction, focusing on aspects like anonymity and identity formation. The Reduced Social Cues Approach highlights the limitations of CMC due to the absence of nonverbal cues, leading to impersonal communication and reduced immediacy. As technology evolves, CMC theory continues to adapt, providing insights into the social, cultural, and psychological effects of digital communication.

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14 views2 pages

Senior Research Topic

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory is an interdisciplinary field that examines how technology influences communication and social interaction, focusing on aspects like anonymity and identity formation. The Reduced Social Cues Approach highlights the limitations of CMC due to the absence of nonverbal cues, leading to impersonal communication and reduced immediacy. As technology evolves, CMC theory continues to adapt, providing insights into the social, cultural, and psychological effects of digital communication.

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wohschief
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Computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory is an interdisciplinary field that has been

developed since the late 20th century. Studied by many scholars from a variety of disciplines
including communication, sociology, psychology, and computer science, this theory is not
attributed to a single author or group of authors. Rather, CMC theory has emerged through a
collective effort of researchers, theorists, and practitioners who have studied the ways in which
technology affects communication and social interaction. This theory explores the ways in which
technology affects communication and social interaction, focusing on issues such as anonymity,
social presence, and identity formation in virtual environments. With the growth of social media,
CMC theory has expanded to address topics such as networked publics, digital divide, and
algorithmic culture.
A key idea in CMC theory is that computer technology changes the nature of communication,
allowing for new forms of interaction and changing traditional power dynamics. CMC theory
also highlights the importance of considering the technical affordances of different platforms and
the ways in which these abilities influence communication. Overall, CMC theory in mass
communication continues to evolve as technology and communication practices change,
providing a framework for understanding the social, cultural, and psychological impacts of
computer-mediated communication.
In the early 1980s the very influential Reduced Social Cues Approach was developed in a
program of research at Carnegie Mellon University that was more directly concerned with CMC
and its social influence. The reduced social cues approach is a perspective within the computer-
mediated communication (CMC) theory that argues that communication through computer
technology is limited by the absence of nonverbal cues compared to face-to-face communication.
The core assumptions of this approach include:
1. Cues filtration theory: This theory argues that online communication lacks the richness of
cues that are present in face-to-face interaction, such as tone of voice, facial expressions,
and body language.
2. Impersonal communication: The reduced social cues approach assumes that CMC is
more impersonal than face-to-face communication, leading to less intimacy and less trust.
3. Lack of immediacy: This perspective argues that the lack of nonverbal cues leads to a
delay in feedback, reducing the sense of immediacy and spontaneity in CMC.
4. Deindividuation: The reduced social cues approach suggests that the anonymity and
reduced social presence in CMC can lead to a loss of individuality and accountability,
leading to deindividuation and disinhibited behavior.
These central aspects of the reduced social cues approach provide a lens for understanding the
limitations of CMC as a form of communication and its impact on social interaction.
Works Cited
Tanis, M. A. (2003). Cues to identity in CMC: the impact on person perception and subsequent
interaction outcomes.
Walther, J. B., Van Der Heide, B., Ramirez Jr, A., Burgoon, J. K., & Peña, J. (2015).
Interpersonal and hyperpersonal dimensions of computer‐mediated communication. The
handbook of the psychology of communication technology, 1-22.

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