Instant Messaging and Interpersonal Relationships

Instant Messaging and Interpersonal Relationships

The popular growth of Instant messaging technology on the Internet has become a fact of life. The ease of use and the immediacy that instant messaging offers has resulted in it's almost wholesale adoption for communication, particularly among adolescents and the 18 to 25 age group. There are many reasons for the popularity of this technology. Possibly one of the most obvious of these reasons is that it is an affordable and cheap mode of communication. As one study states, "The telephone is no longer necessary for a person to be connected constantly to his or her family and friends. One can simply turn on their computer and log onto IM and hold simultaneous conversations, without long distance fees" (Hwang and Lombard 2006). Other reasons for its increasing acceptance among the youth is that it has become a social and culturally accepted mode of communication and has been absorbed into the youth "sub-culture."

However the use of instant messaging as a ubiquitous mode of communication and interaction has generated debate and concern with regard to its impact on interpersonal relationships. Various studies and research documents have begun to surface in recent years from as variety of disciplines on this subject; including the fields of education, psychology, sociology and it. A growing body of literature, albeit still in a tentative stage, is being established on the implications and the repercussions of this contemporary form of communication.

At the same time many researchers stress that there is a decided paucity in the amount of research on the implications of IM for the younger generation. As Hwang and Lombard (2006) state;

Although the IM phenomenon has received much media attention, the current IM literature is limited. Most studies narrowly focus on IM use in work-related activities within the business community... Even fewer studies have addressed the first generation that grew up with the Internet and the largest group of IM users: college students. (Hwang and Lombard, 2006)

Therefore there is a growing need across disciplines to rigorously explore the implications and the pros and cons of this modern form of communication.

This paper will focus on the way in which IM has affected and is possibly changing the nature of interpersonal relationships in the contemporary communications environment. The study will focus on the 18-25 age groups as this is the demographic that has grown up with modern technology as an endemic part of their lives and who are most at home with the technology - and most directly affected by it. It should also be pointed out at the outset that there is a close correlation between the topic of interpersonal relationships in IM and aspects of interpersonal communications. The fact that digital communications and interpersonal connections are closely bound in the modern world makes it difficult to discuss these two aspects separately. Therefore this study will also focus on both interpersonal relationships and modes of communication and their points of intersection.

Definitions and overview

Simply stated, Instant messaging refers to software which, "....allows computer users to send and receive short text messages in real" (Hwang and Lombard, 2006). In more technical terms IM or instant messaging refers to a form of synchronous computer-mediated communication or CMC. (Tidwell & Walther, 2002) With the introduction of ICQ by Mirabilis inn1966, instant messaging became more freely available and accessible to all with Internet access. In more recent years there have been a plethora of instant messaging applications, including the popular America Online Instant Messenger service, Microsoft's MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger.

IM has proven to be an extremely popular form of communication. In the United States,"... instant messaging has proved one of the most popular applications of the Internet, inducing people to want to stay connected to the Internet for extended amounts of time to be available for conversation" (Bonka et al.). The Pew Internet Project found that 74% of adolescents in the United States who had Internet access used IM and 35% used it every day and that, "IM was the primary way to communicate with others for 19% of U.S. adolescents" (Bonka et al.). In another report entitled Online Activities and Pursuits (2004) it was found that, "...53 million American adults... use instant messaging programs. About 11 million of them IM at work and they are becoming fond of its capacity to encourage productivity and interoffice cooperation" (Shiu 2004).

A common theme in the literature is the lack of definitive research in terms of the IM and its effect on interpersonal relationships. This also applies to the reasons why this form of communications is so popular. As Hwang and Lombard (2006) suggest, "Despite the rapid and widespread diffusion of Instant Messaging systems there is little research that explores why people use IM" (Hwang and Lombard, 2006). However, among the many reasons given for the popularity of this medium are relaxation, sociability and entertainment.

A primary aspect is the ease of communication in IM and the fact that people can connect in an instant and also share ideas and thoughts instantaneously with one another. It provides a perfect platform for "socializing opportunities" (Hwang and Lombard, 2006). It is the way in which IM facilitates communication that makes it such as pervasive medium and this in turn has a profound effect on the structure and the form of contemporary social relationships.

The above point is reiterated in a number of studies. For example in a study by Hunter, the uses and gratifications of Project Agora, cited in Hwang and Lombard (2006), it was found that in the instant messaging environment, "...the majority of people sought increased communication as well as information gathering... And felt that these needs had been gratified by the service" Hwang and Lombard (2006).

A central finding in the literature in terms of communication and interpersonal relations is that younger people find this medium extremely attractive. One possible reason is that IM takes place in a less formal and controlled environment than other modes of conventional communication. (Grinter and Palen, 2002) Another aspect to be considered is that IM allows for one-to-one communications as well as group discussions. Therefore instant messaging satisfies two major needs in identity formation, namely "...maintaining individual friendships and belonging to peer groups" (Bonka et al.).

IM, interpersonal relationships and communication

While there is a strong argument that IM offers new and often very effective modes of communications, there is doubt about its functionality in terms of interpersonal relationships. (Ubiquitous Cell Phones Blocking Relationships, 2006)

What is reasonably certain in the literature is that instant messaging in its various forms, especially in the light of the intense growth and development of mobile communications, "...will lead to significant changes in the way people relate to each other" (Ubiquitous Cell Phones Blocking Relationships, 2006).

One of the central concerns about this form communication is that it is "impersonal" in relation to actual physical contact; and that this impersonality is taking the place of normal relationship and reducing the significance of the subtle nuances in offline relationships. As one study on this issue notes;

We are laser-focused on our conversation with one person to the point that we do not interact with other humans who may be standing right next to us. The world is rapidly becoming a collection of people in isolation bubbles who have no connection to each other. (Ubiquitous Cell Phones Blocking Relationships, 2006)

In other words, the assertion is that while instant massaging facilitates more extensive modes of communications, at the same time it impacts on important aspects of interpersonal behavior that are seen to be detrimental to healthy and positive relationship formation.

This is a view that may be seen to be somewhat extreme but it does have an element of truth that is reiterated to a certain extent in a number of modern studies. This view also states that there is a certain risk to interpersonal relationships in IM. This refers to the view that we are losing the importance of face-to-face contact and the intimacy that result from conventional interrelationships. "...communicating by cell phone and instant messaging systems... is disrupting face-to-face communication, making the workplace? And our lives? impersonal" (Ubiquitous Cell Phones Blocking Relationships, 2006).

There are also a number of critiques of instant massaging as a form of interpersonal communications that should be noted. Theorists in this field state that; "...IM programs foster sloppy interpersonal relationships (e.g., not affirming responses through non-verbal communication expression, etc.), reinforce laziness when communicating both verbally and non-verbally in offline contexts, and produce a lessened awareness of one's ability to communicate orally and in writing" (Smith D. 2006). More specifically this refers to the way in which technologies like instant messaging, "... limit the use of or completely ignore routine non-verbal cues in face-to-face communication because one cannot shift his or her head to or away from the speaker, initiate a gesture, or start an audible inhalation..." (Smith D. 2006) the obvious consequences of this is that it can lead to misunderstanding or even a breakdown in communications and therefore in interpersonal relationships.

An extremely important aspect to take into account in terms of the impact of IM on interpersonal relationships is the age-group of the user. As mentioned briefly above, the younger generation is more at home with this technology and therefore their interpersonal relationships are less adversely affected than older users, who have become used to a more offline mode of communication. In other words, the younger users will tend to have already adapted their relationships to the prevalent mode of communication and to the conventions of instant messaging. Added to this are other variables, such as cultural and social norms that promote or support these new mean of communion. Smith (2006) summarizes this point concisely: "...theory suggests that the apparent change of one's communication skills in any context depends on the society that the individual was raised or educated in through his or her child and young adult years..." (Smith D. 2006)

Another issue that places IM in a negative light is that in offline conversations the participants in the conversation usually see one another and take into account non-verbal signs; which are of particular importance for communication and relationships. Instant messaging on the other hand only offers a set of limited 'emoticons' or basic visual symbol that can be attached to the text to deal with these subtle aspects of communication. While IM can be a very effective of communication and conversation it is not the best mode of communication for deeper and more intense interrelationships. "....the problem lies in the fact that deep personal conversations are not necessarily well communicated online as they are offline in face-to-face chats" (Smith D. 2006).

Another common criticism of IM is that too much time is spent on this medium to the detriment of work and more meaningful relationships. In essence, the more time spent online the less time is spent actually interacting with people in the physical world - a fact which many psychologists are concerned about. Related to this is the fact that instant messaging conversations may lack a strong sense of security or rather that IM conversation may lead to a false sense of security, which is largely a result of not physically seeing and 'judging' the other person. This also leads to the important question of the way that this form of interaction can affect the individual's sense of reality. "... IM conversations ultimately lead to a false security about what is real and what is not" (Lee and Perry, 2004, p. 6). In essence the concern that is expressed in this regard is that interaction in terms of the possibilities and limitations of IM may lead to a divorce or a distance form actual physical reality; which may in turn have negative outcomes for the individual. Instant messaging has also been criticized in terms of certain practical aspects of daily life. For example, "... If one becomes so shrouded in the program itself, he or she may abstain from any opportunity to leave the room, foregoing eating, attending class, or failing to exercise properly in the process" (Smith D. 2006).

Another theoretical issue which should be noted is the phenomenon of Idealized Perception in IM. This refers to the fact that in IM conversations the interaction is based on limited information. Therefore one of the characteristics of interaction in the IM environment is that that the one participant may not realize the negative attributes of the other. In other terms this means that;

partners may engage in over-attributing impressions. These impressions are based on meager information, such as, misspelling or excessive punctuation. These impressions are not uniformly positive, nor negative. The valence of the evaluation is based on perceived similarities, in the absence of physical exposure to one another. (McQuillen J. 2003)

This also refers to the previous view of IM in that certain aspect can be concealed in IM which would otherwise be more evident in conventional interactive situations. Hence the reports of many people, and children, in IM relationships being conned or misled by individuals who they accept and trust at face value. "...because of the lack of nonverbal information. The receiver has no (or very limited) information available to test, validate, discredit, or refine the information presented by the sender" (McQuillen J. 2003).

On the other had the contemporary literature abounds with studies, report and commentaries which assert the positive aspects of instant messaging. An aspect that is seen to be generally positive is the fact that it enhances communication. Some theorists state that IM has become the primary means of communication among family and friends and business in society. (Smith D. 2006) Furthermore, there are studies which show that instant messaging is a mode of communication that can enhance social learning and lead to the acquisition of knowledge that is part and parcel of socializing..." (Smith D. 2006)