The article “Channels of Computer-Mediated Communication and Satisfaction in Long-Distance Relationships” examines the communication technology that long distance couples use to stay in touch and enhance satisfaction in their relationship. Prior to this study, most research done has been on couples who live geographically close to one another, but as long-distance relationships become more prevalent, it is important to understand how different modes of communication effect these relationships. The research done attempts to understand how different communication technologies and the level of audio and visual cues associated help couples communicate when they aren’t able to be face-to-face.
The article mentioned several different theories related to computer-mediated communication. For example, through the media richness theory, some forms of communication are limited including nonverbal cues, whereas other forms are “rich” in using multiple information channels, immediate exchanges and personalizing messages. This relates to the social information processing theory in that the exchange of social information is important for increasing intimacy in relationships. I found it interesting that the authors argued that in CMC, people have greater control over the communication process and engage in strategic self-presentation by editing or deleting messages and having time to think about what to say first, which differs from face-to-face interaction which is more immediate. It makes me wonder though whether CMC can take away from the intimacy and personalization of relationships as well as it seems like people have the opportunity to be less honest and direct.
The study attempted to find out what modes of communication people use more frequently in long-distance relationships and whether frequency of using those modes had an effect on relationship satisfaction. There was an international sample of 588 individuals who were in long distance relationships. The survey was sent out on multiple platforms, allowing for a diverse range of applicants to respond. The survey initially attracted even more respondents, but the authors narrowed down the sample size to eliminate people who didn’t fill out the whole survey or who weren’t in a true long-distance relationship. A majority of the respondents were women and there were various people from different countries. I would be interested in learning more about these demographics, including the average distance between partners, how often they communicated and how they met.
Overall, the research indicated that the participants in the study favored text messaging above all other communication platforms, which makes sense to me because it is typically the fastest way to communicate, and you can do it throughout the day. Skype was the only medium that had a positive association with overall relationship satisfaction, primarily due to the audio and visual cues that if offers. Channels like Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook were infrequently used and were also cited as possible modes of communication that could cause jealousy and tension in a relationship. Because couples prefer more private and intimate communication settings while away from one another, they tend not to rely on social media to stay connected. I liked the analogy of “snacking” to fulfill a sense of belonging and how people can feel socially full or hungry depending on what mode of communication they use with their partner.
The study concluded by mentioning that there were still gaps in information, including accessing the reasoning for why the partners in the study were in a long-distance relationship. I’d be interested to see if there were same results in long-distance friendships or families who are not geographically close. For example, I have a lot of hometown friends who are currently in college across the country, and I did notice a lot of similarities in terms of the benefits of text and video messaging. But I think using social media to communicate with friends and family has added benefits for those connections but would cause problems in a long-distance relationship. Will these results be the same in 5/10 years? Or will there be other technology services that come out that are significantly better and easier? How can we use these findings to address gaps in CMC?
I read the same article as you, and similarly loved the authors’ “snacking” analogy. Many times, people view social communication as a privilege rather than a necessity. I like that this article really demonstrates how CMC is more than just a want, but is a need. People are in a sense “hungry” for human interaction, and are willing to use a variety of technologies to satisfy that hunger. I also found it interesting that social media platforms like Snapchat and Facebook were used infrequently by couples, and correlated with a sense of jealousy. It’s fascinating to think that though many of these social media platforms were created with the purpose of encouraging long-distance communications, they ultimately may create even more obstacles for couples.
I also liked the terms “snacking” and “lean” to describe certain technological interactions in relationships. I relate to this analogy, as sending a snapchat may feel like a bag of chips, but having an hour long Facetime call can feel like a full and hearty meal. Although it sounds silly, it really does apply well to the various channels that people choose to use. I too found it interesting that using Snapchat and Facebook in LDR correlated with a sense of jealousy. From what I’ve seen, a lot of tension can arise with Instagram features like ‘Liked by X and others’ or ‘X was active 30 minutes ago’. The transparency into someone’s social media activity down to the minutes, or down to the exact photos someone has liked can be a major invasion of privacy. I personally have found myself in redundant arguments in my own relationship when I may receive a Snapchat or Instagram DM from a person, while they choose not to reply to my texts or calls. When you talk about this all from a broad perspective, it is eye opening to how some of the channels can truly do more harm than good for our relationships.
I find this weeks reading with communication technology in regards to relationships to be some of the most interesting that we’ve read. Long distance relationships are so reliant on technology, its very unsurprising that research on them has been discussed. Its completely a give-and-take, where couples will have to commit to keeping their relationships alive and well, despite the distance and potential schedule misalignment. I find the hardest aspect would actually be in situations where the tone of someones message could be misinterpreted or misconstrued to upset their partner, in which case the reassurance of being together IRL isn’t possible. As technology is developing, we can see how couples are finding more creative ways to keep in touch, and basically ensure their relationships stay healthy and strong.