Журнал массовых коммуникаций и журналистики

New Media in Interpersonal Communication

Abstract

Ngugi Peter Kibe and Charles Kinyua Kamunyu

Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) is literally altering the norms of interpersonal interaction and creating a new system of messages by which people attempt to understand one another both verbally and nonverbally. It’s rare to look around and not see people texting, processing their email, or checking their Facebook status using smart phones, laptops, or iPads and in some of the most unusual places. Technology has changed the way we understand and handle our interpersonal relationships. Little research has been done to evaluate the impact that computermediated technology has had on the theoretical view of relational closeness. In social networking like Facebook, the user is constantly using social penetration theory by displaying self-disclosure. Annie McCarthy posits that: a Face book user can set their privacy settings to determine their levels of self-disclosure. This paper attempts to explore these perspectives in relationship development.